Computer co. allowed to resume operations

An Edison resident previously arrested for conspiracy to commit immigration fraud has been granted permission to resume work at the company he owns, which federal authorities claim was used to provide work visas and green cards for immigrants who did not actually work there.

Nilesh Dasondi, of Hana Road in Edison, appeared in U.S. District Court in Newark before U.S. Magistrate Judge Esther Salas on July 17, according to Justin Quinn, the judge's deputy.

According to spokesman Michael Drewniak of the U.S. Attorney's Office, as well as Dasondi's own attorney, Eric Breslin, the judge gave Dasondi permission to return to his work place, Cygate Software and Consulting Inc. According to Breslin, the decision came after an investigation by pretrial services.

According to Drewniak, the government was strongly against the move, saying that they still believe Dasondi was using his company to perpetuate immigration fraud.

"The government firmly believes that Dasondi used his business [as] the primary method of perpetuating fraud with which he is charged. As such, the government opposed and continues to oppose any involvement of Mr. Dasondi with his business," said Drewniak.

Though Dasondi is now allowed to work, all other conditions of his bail have remained. This includes home confinement with electronic monitoring, as well as having to post three properties he owns, including his house, in order to secure equity on his $800,000 bail.

Dasondi was arrested by federal authorities at his home on June 10 and was charged with conspiracy to commit immigration fraud. Also arrested that week were six of his alleged clients.

According to the criminal complaint filed against Dasondi and his clients, Dasondi submitted false and fraudulent paperwork to the U.S. government in order to obtain H-1B visas and green cards based on supposed employment with Cygate. In exchange, the clients, named in the complaint as Kishor Parikh, Devang Patel, Vimal Patel, Hetal Shah, Chetan Trivdei and Ajit Vyas, would give Dasondi monthly payments that eventually added up to tens of thousands of dollars each. Dasondi acted on behalf of the six clients at different times between 2002 and 2007. All told, Dasondi is accused of having collected a total of $503,000 from the six people.

After returning a portion of the money in the form of paychecks from Cygate, paying state and federal taxes and, for some, paying for health insurance, Dasondi was left with $349,000 for what the criminal complaint says was his own personal enrichment.

The criminal complaint also says that notations written on the checks and money orders submitted to Dasondi included notes such as "pay stubs + HI + H1- visa," "payroll," "paychecks + health insurance," "GC," and "for Green Card + Health Insurance."

Before his arrest, Dasondi had been active in township politics, having run for council in 2007 under the Bill Stephens slate and donating $4,100 to Mayor Jun Choi's campaign between 2005 and 2006.