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Law enforcement authorities in the US have charged seven Indian-origin businessmen with sales tax evasion of over $3.5 million. They face imprisonment of up to 15 years.

Statement released from the attorney general’s office, say that after a criminal tax investigation of two years, charges were filed against Cherag Patel, Jiggarkumar Patel, Nishant Patel, Mukesh Patel, Rajanikant Patel, Dipakkumar Patel and Vishal Patel.

NBC Chicago reported that over $3.5 million in sales taxes was collectively defrauded the state by nine defendants, including the seven Indians, from July 2010 to December 2013. Seven operators were charged with sales tax evasion of over $100,000, a Class 1 felony punishable by up to 4-15 years imprisonment. Dipakkumar and Yasir Kanan were charged with sales tax evasion of over $10,000, a Class 2 felony punishable by up to 3-7 years of imprisonment.

Illinois Department of Revenue special agents arrested five of them, according to the report. on Friday All of them were scheduled to appear in bond court. The charges follow the criminal probe by Criminal Investigation Division of the Illinois Department of Revenue into untaxed liquor brought in from out of the state.

-Sumana