The complaint also alleged that Patel’s plan was to join a ‘Muslim Army’ as he wanted to commit jihad
An Indian American man from Williamsburg, Virginia was arrested on July 6 for making false statements during his application to join the US Army and Air Force.
The 27-year-old Shivam Patel was charged on June 30 for hiding information from recruiters about his foreign travel and prior arrest in the Kingdom of Jordan. He made materially false statements in a matter within the jurisdiction of the executive branch of the US government, the Department of Justice said in a press release last week.
According to the criminal complaint, Patel traveled to China in July 2016 and then went to Jordan, where he was arrested, detained and deported to the United States. The complaint also alleged that Patel’s plan was to join a ‘Muslim Army’ as he wanted to commit jihad.
After returning to the US, Patel applied to join the US Army and Air Force through Office Candidate Selection process, which began in December 2016. Patel did not disclose his travel to China or Jordan in the application and claimed that he traveled outside the United State only once in past seven years and that was a family trip to India in 2011-2012.
US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Dana J. Boente and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office Martin Culbreath made the announcement. Assistant US Attorney Andrew Bosse is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Patel will get a maximum penalty of five years in prison.