Indian sentenced to 15 months in jail for possessing firearms

Following an investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, Narendrakumar 'Nick' Patel was sentenced by US District Court in Montgomery, Alabama, to 15 months in federal prison for being an "alien unlawfully in possession of a firearm."
45-year-old Patel was tried and convicted by a jury in April for allegedly possessing a loaded Omega, Model 32, .32 Smith and Wesson Calibre, Revolver on October 30, 2008. He was sentenced on Tuesday last.

During a search operation, law enforcement found the loaded firearm lying on a shelf above the cash register in Patel's former business, the Pit Stop, in Millbrook, Alabama.
Subsequent investigation revealed that Patel had illegally entered the US in the mid-1990s. Since that entry, Patel remained an alien, having failed to successfully adjust his immigration status, an official release said.

In addition to the prison term, Patel was sentenced to serve two years of supervised release under the supervision of a federal probation officer.
Patel also faces administrative removal proceedings with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

"Prison terms like this one are a reminder that there are consequences for violating immigration law," said Raymond R Parmer, Jr, special agent in charge of ICE's Office of Homeland Security Investigation in New Orleans.