Thread: $540,000 seized from motel owners for harboring IAs

$540,000 seized from city motel owners
By FERNANDO DEL VALLE

BROWNSVILLE, TX — Federal officials seized $540,000 from four Harlingen motel owners after they were sentenced to probation for conspiracy to harbor illegal immigrants, an official said Friday.

Rakeshkumar Bhakta, 40, and wife Alka Bhakta, 35, owners of the Hudson House motel, and Kamleshkumar Bhakta, 32, and wife Falguniben Bhakta, 30, owners of the Country Side Inn motel, forfeited a total of $540,000 in equity from their businesses, said Nina Pruneda, spokeswoman for the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in San Antonio.

U.S. District Judge Hilda Tagle ordered the owners of the Hudson House and Country Side Inn each to pay $270,000 of the total, a press release said.

Tagle ordered Rakeshkumar Bhakta and Kamleshkumar Bhakta to serve five years probation as part of an agreement in which they would serve 30 days in jail and pay $5,000 fines, the press release said.

Alka Bhakta and Falguniben Bhakta were also sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay $2,000 fines, the press release said.

The four motel owners pleaded guilty Aug. 10 in U.S. District Court to charges that stemmed from undercover sting operations, authorities said.

In court, Tagle said an undercover operation made up of 27 ICE agents and five illegal immigrants led to the charges against the motel owners from India.

At the motels Friday, desk clerks declined comment, referring questions to Weslaco attorney Jesse Contreras. When reached by phone, Contreras said only, “You have a nice day,â€

Alka Bhakta and Falguniben Bhakta..hmm..does anyone know if these two are legal themselves?

[quote]At the motels Friday, desk clerks declined comment, referring questions to Weslaco attorney Jesse Contreras. When reached by phone, Contreras said only, “You have a nice day,â€

Does anyone know if these folks are American citizens? I assume legal immigrants would have had their status canceled upon conviction of a felony.

Originally Posted by MW

Does anyone know if these folks are American citizens? I assume legal immigrants would have had their status canceled upon conviction of a felony.

Absolutely no clue from the MSM. Should we expect anything else?

According to the Freedom Folks, they are at a minimum legal resident visa holders and it is unclear if they might be citizens. They did immigrate:

[size=200][b]The “New Americans!â€

Zeezil wrote:

According to the Freedom Folks, they are at a minimum legal resident visa holders and it is unclear if they might be citizens.

If they aren't actually American citizens, the law should require their deportation. Committing a felony is reason for revoking visa or green card status and deportation.

Did I miss it in the story, or do we know if these were illegals from Mexico, SA, or perhaps from the ME?

Just in my mind wanderings, I have always thought about the fact so many motels are owned by ME people - not a knock on them as a whole - but it would be such a very good way to hide terrorists in this country.

nntrixie wrote:

Did I miss it in the story, or do we know if these were illegals from Mexico, SA, or perhaps from the ME?

Their names would definitely indicate Middle Eastern descent. We have yet to figure out if they're American citizens or legal immigrants. American citizens obviously can't be deported, but legal immigrants can.

I believe they may be Indian or Pakastani.