07-22-05 -- Jishi, Maher, et al. -- Sentencing -- News Release

Couple Sentenced in Connection with Keeping a Sri Lankan Woman in Their Home for Financial Gain

CAMDEN - A husband and wife were sentenced today on federal charges arising from their harboring of an illegal alien for the purpose of cheap or free domestic services, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson sentenced Maher Jishi, 45, to one year of probation, which includes six months of home confinement, and a fine of $10,000. Maher already served 68 days in the Camden County jail and six months of home confinement with electronic monitoring. Maher's wife, Manal, 36, was sentenced to serve one year of probation and ordered to pay $2500 in fines.

The couple pleaded guilty before Judge Wolfson on April 13, 2005.

Maher Jishi pleaded guilty to Count One of a two-count Indictment, which charged him with concealing or harboring for financial gain a Sri Lankan alien who had entered and remained in the United States illegally. Manal Jishi pleaded guilty to a one-count Superseding Information that charged her with the misprison of a felony (failure to report knowledge of a felony).

At their plea hearings, Maher and Manal Jishi admitted that from April 2002 through February 2004, they employed Chandra Bulathwatte as a domestic employee, first in their home in Marlton and then in Washington Township, Gloucester County. They both admitted that they were aware that Bulathwatte was a citizen of Sri Lanka and that she was in the United States illegally.

They both admitted that the husband knowingly harbored and concealed Bulathwatte in their homes for the purpose of private financial gain, that is, cheap or free domestic services performed by Bulathwatte. Manal admitted she knew that such activity was illegal and constituted a felony, but did not notify the police or any other authorities about this felony. She admitted that instead she took steps to conceal the felony, including instructing Bulathwatte to stay inside their home.

In determining an actual sentence, Judge Wolfson consulted the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges that take into account the severity and characteristics of the offense, the defendant's criminal history, if any, and other factors. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.

Parole has been abolished in the federal system. Defendants who are given custodial terms must serve nearly all that time.

Christie credited Special Agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, under the direction of Special Agent in Kyle Hutchins in Newark.

The Government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Diana V. Carrig of the U.S. Attorney's Office Criminal Division in Camden and Trial Attorney Sheila Berman of the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Criminal Section.

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Defense Attorney: Maher Jishi - Jerome A. Ballarotto, Esq. Trenton

Manal Jishi - Mark W. Catanzaro, Esq. Moorestown