Washington: Two Indians have been sentenced to 17 months in prison by a federal court for their roles in smuggling foreign nationals into the US, the Department of Justice has said.

Nilesh Kumar Patel, 42, and Harshad Mehta, 67, were sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to illegally transport foreign nationals into the US via commercial airline flights, Acting US Attorney William E Fitzpatrick said. They had pleaded guilty to the charges in January. Judge Martini imposed the sentences yesterday in Newark federal court.