Two NRI Men Plead Guilty To Selling Drugs
Out Of Albuquerque Motel, US

Los Angeles, July 24, 2023
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh

Two NRI men have pleaded guilty to drug and firearms charges arising from a drug trafficking venture run out of a motel in the US.

Kamal Bhula, 44, of Albuquerque, and Pragneshkumar “Pete” Patel, 36, of Montgomery, Alabama are among the three charged for maintaining a drug-involved premise at a motel in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Both Bhula and Patel have pleaded guilty to one count each of maintaining a drug-involved premise, the Attorney’s Office of New Mexico said. The third accused, Jonathan Craft, 36, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm or ammunition.

According to court records, Patel owned the Best Choice Inn at 7640 Central Avenue SE and was the on-site manager from September 2017 to March 2018, when Bhula leased the property from Patel and took over as the on-site manager.

Bhula and Patel allowed drug trafficking at the motel and personally observed and profited from those who used controlled substances on the premises. At sentencing, Bhula, Craft and Patel each face up to 20 years in prison