NEWARK — Two men from India were sentenced to 17 months in federal prison for their roles in helping to bring people into the country illegally.

Nileshkumar Patel, 42, and Harsad Mehta, 68, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a count of of conspiracy to smuggle foreign nationals into the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain.

They had faced 10 years in prison.

Federal prosecutors said the duo admitted recruiting people from India to come to the United States between June 2013 and October 2015.

On July 24, 2014, two people from India were brought to Bangkok to be taken to the United States.

They also admitted to paying a man, who was actually an undercover officer, to help bring the people from Thailand to New Jersey.

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