New Jersey Doctor Sentenced To Prison For Exploiting Illegal Immigrants As Servants

A New Jersey doctor has been sentenced to over two years in prison and permanently lost her medical license after exploiting two illegal immigrants for forced labor. Dr. Harsha Sahni admitted to harboring two Indian women and forcing them to work as underpaid household servants.

Sahni pleaded guilty in February 2024 to charges of conspiracy to conceal and harbor illegal aliens and filing a false tax return. She paid the women between $3,000 and $7,200 annually, far below legal wage standards. Authorities revealed that Sahni used threats of deportation to keep the women from seeking help.

The women were coerced into lying to immigration officials, falsely claiming they were Sahni’s relatives visiting the United States for tourism. Sahni also failed to report their labor on her tax returns, avoiding taxes and legal employment practices.

One of the victims was forced to work from early morning until late at night, earning as little as $240 to $600 a month. The small wages were sent to her family in India, highlighting the doctor’s severe exploitation for personal gain.

In October 2024, a federal judge sentenced Sahni to 27 months in prison. New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin condemned Sahni’s behavior, stating, “The revocation announced today brings closure to a disturbing case in which a physician sworn to uphold the highest standards of care and compassion exploited and abused vulnerable victims for her own financial gain.”

Cari Fais, Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, also criticized Sahni’s actions. “Sahni’s treatment of the women she illegally harbored as cheap labor for her and her family violated the most basic rules of the medical profession and caused her victims unimaginable suffering,” Fais said.

Sahni is scheduled to begin serving her prison sentence soon, bringing an end to her medical career and highlighting the consequences of exploiting vulnerable individuals.