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Indian-origin accountant imprisoned for evading U.S. customs duties
At sentencing, Ravi Kapadia was held responsible for evading more than $1.89 million in U.S. customs duties between June 2019 and April 2020.
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Staff Reporter - Thu, 09, Jul 2026
- 03:05 EDT
- 32
Representative image / Pexels
Indian-origin former accountant Ravi Kapadia has been sentenced to 10 months in federal prison for conspiring to evade more than $1.89 million in U.S. customs duties by falsely declaring the origin of imported gold jewelry, federal prosecutors announced.
Kapadia, 46, a citizen of India who most recently lived in Jersey City, New Jersey, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to conspiracy to defraud the United States and enter goods through false statements. U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey sentenced him on June 26 and also ordered him to pay restitution to the United States, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois.
Authorities said Kapadia worked as an accountant for a gold jewelry exporter based in the United Arab Emirates and conspired with the company's owner and others to fraudulently import gold jewelry from certain countries, including India, while avoiding U.S. customs duties.
According to prosecutors, the group falsely declared that the jewelry originated in Oman instead of its actual country of origin. When agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection questioned one shipment destined for the Northern District of Illinois and requested information about where the jewelry had been manufactured, Kapadia and his co-conspirators created and obtained false records to support the claim that the products were made in Oman.
The fraudulent records included a list of purported employees containing fictitious job roles and salary information. Authorities said the fabricated documents were then submitted to Customs and Border Protection.
At sentencing, Kapadia was held responsible for evading more than $1.89 million in U.S. customs duties between June 2019 and April 2020.
His conviction also subjects him to removal from the United States.
U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros said the case highlights the broader impact of customs fraud.
"Trade fraud, like the conspiracy perpetrated in this case, deprives the United States government of vital revenue and undermines consumer confidence," Boutros said.
"Trade compliance is critically important to not only our region's economic security and public safety, but also that of our entire nation's," he said. "I can assure the citizens of the Northern District of Illinois that the U.S. Attorney's Office will be strongly committed to holding parties accountable for evading applicable duties and tariffs, which undermine the rule of law, harm American industry, and create a two-tier pricing structure: higher prices for buyers and sellers unwilling to transact in illegally-entered goods and cheaper prices for those willing to do so or who are otherwise indifferent."
Matthew Scarpino, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations' Chicago office, said protecting U.S. trade systems remains a priority.
"Protecting the integrity of our nation's borders and trade systems is a core mission for Homeland Security Investigations," Scarpino said.
"This case demonstrates HSI's commitment to working alongside our partners to identify and disrupt complex schemes that threaten the U.S. economy and undermine lawful commerce. We will continue to pursue those who attempt to defraud the government and ensure that individuals and businesses are held accountable for violating federal customs laws."
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Kelly.
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