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Indian man sentenced in Seattle for human smuggling scheme
Investigators determined that Sushil Kumar, along with co-defendant Rajat Rajat, 26, had orchestrated the border crossings, instructing non-citizens on how to enter the US illegally.
Stock image. / Pexels
A 35 year-old Indian man and California resident, Sushil Kumar, was sentenced to six months in prison by a US District Court in Seattle for his role in a human smuggling scheme, officials announced. Kumar and three others were indicted for conspiring to smuggle non-citizens across the US-Canada border for profit.
The sentencing, delivered by US District Judge Tana Lin, highlighted the exploitation of those being smuggled. "That they wanted to be in the country doesn’t mean they were not exploited. Each was charged $5,000 to $10,000, which is months or years of their salary in the country from which they were coming… Human smuggling undermines our country’s ability to regulate the border at a real cost," Judge Lin stated.
Smuggling operations uncovered
Court records indicate that Kumar was involved in two smuggling incidents in November and December 2023, which included eight Indian nationals.
On Nov.27, 2023, a motion-activated camera captured multiple individuals jumping a fence near Boundary Village Apartments in Blaine, Washington—just a quarter mile from Peace Arch Park. Border Patrol agents witnessed five people running to a white minivan, driven by 68-year-old California resident Bobby Joe Green. Upon stopping the vehicle, agents found five Indian nationals inside.
During questioning, three non-citizens identified Kumar from a photo lineup, stating they had seen him at Peace Arch Park before illegally crossing the border. Two of them disclosed that they had communicated with Kumar via WhatsApp before the incident. One stated that Kumar had sent him a screenshot of his live location and directed him to jump over a specific fence.
Investigators determined that Kumar, along with co-defendant Rajat Rajat, 26, had orchestrated the crossings, instructing non-citizens on how to enter the US illegally. Rajat was responsible for collecting payments from those being smuggled and had paid Green to transport them.
A similar operation occurred in December 2023, when Rajat met three Indian nationals at Peace Arch Park and allegedly instructed them on crossing methods. The individuals were later apprehended, and Rajat was found near the border after his co-conspirators had been taken into custody.
Prosecutors condemn exploitation
In urging an eight-month sentence, prosecutors emphasized the dangers of human smuggling. "Smuggling of non-citizens is a dangerous scheme that profits from exploiting vulnerable individuals while undermining the United States’ ability to regulate its borders and exposing our nation to potential security threats," they wrote. "Mr. Kumar admits that he knowingly and intentionally conspired with his co-defendants to smuggle and transport non-citizens… for his own financial gain."
Three of the four defendants in the case have pleaded guilty. Rajat Rajat is scheduled for sentencing on Apr.23, 2025. Bobby Joe Green will be sentenced on Mar.13, 2025. Sneha, 20, an Indian citizen on a student visa, has pleaded not guilty and is set to go to trial on May.12, 2025. Sneha, who was arrested in Renton, Washington, has been released on bond.
The case is being investigated by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) and the US Border Patrol. Prosecutors handling the case include Assistant US Attorneys Jin Kim and Mike Dion, along with Special Assistant US Attorney Katherine Collins.
Sneha's charges remain allegations, and she is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
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