N.J. doctor who illegally harbored undocumented workers is sentenced to federal prison

A New Jersey doctor who admitted recruiting and hiring two Indian nationals to work as housekeepers at her and her family’s homes for eight years and failing to pay taxes on their wages has been sentenced to more than 2 years in federal prison, officials said.
In addition to her stint in prison, Harsha Sahni, 68, of Tinton Falls, will be subject to two years of supervised release and has been ordered to pay $728,327 in restitution and as much as $200,000 for medical bills, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for New Jersey said Monday.
Sahni hired the women as her housekeepers, but only paid each of their families in India $240 to $600 a month for the women to work daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m, according to a consent order filed when her medical license was suspended in September 2023.
She also didn’t allow one of the women to receive treatment for a brain aneurysm unless she found a replacement to perform her daily duties, according to documents.
Sahni used fake names and addresses for the workers and instructed them to tell others they were related to her, federal prosecutors said. The physician also made the victims believe they would be arrested or deported if they reported the criminal activity to law enforcement, authorities said.
Sahni had a rheumatology practice in the Colonia section of Woodbridge before her license was suspended.
Sahni pleaded guilty in February 2023 to conspiracy to conceal and harbor undocumented immigrants and filing a false tax return, prosecutors said
Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
Jeff Goldman may be reached at [email protected].