The Edison man who in 2009 pleaded guilty in a more than $850,000 immigration scam, is on the ballot in this year's Edison school board election.
EDISON -- A township man who years ago pleaded guilty in a more than $850,000 immigration scam is on the ballot in this year's township school board election.
Nilesh Dasondi, 49, is one of five candidates running in the school board election in November. Three, three-year seats are up for grabs.
In 2008, Dasondi -- a former Edison zoning board member who operated a software company -- had been charged with running a more than $850,000 immigration scam. Between 2002 and 2008, he used his corporation, Cygate Software, to obtain fraudulent work visas and green cards for eight people who weren't employees but paid his company for the immigration documents, using the money for fraudulent payroll disbursements, tax payments and health insurance for the eight people, The Star-Ledger previously reported.
Dasondi had initially faced a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. He ultimately pleaded to submitting fraudulent documents related to visa applications, and served six months in prison with three months supervision after his release, according to federal court records. He was ordered to repay more than $75,000 in restitution.
Dasondi did not return a call seeking comment earlier this week.
Though the Middlesex County Clerk's Office is responsible for approving petition forms of school board candidates, it had not been aware of Dasondi's criminal past when they certified his petition.
Cassandra Achille, supervisor for elections at the county Clerk's Office, said nothing was "flagged" in the computer system to indicate any criminal history. She said the county Board of Elections receives and logs that type of information into countywide computer system.
The Board of Elections did not return a call for comment.
Achille noted that the Clerk's Office is not responsible for conducting background checks.
According to Achille and the New Jersey Department of Education, background checks are conducted on winning candidates within 30 days after an election.
"If they win the candidacy they cannot accept it," Achille said on Tuesday. "Within 30 days, (the winner) must undergo a background check by the New Jersey Department of Education."
According to the state Department of Education, anyone convicted of a first or second-degree felony, under which Dasondi's guilty plea falls, would not be allowed to run for or hold a school district seat. If, however, a board member was removed after his or her election, it would be up to the county superintendent to fill the vacancy, according to the New Jersey School Board Association's website.
The upcoming school board election would not be Dasondi's first township election. In 2007, he ran an unsuccessful bid for Edison Township Council.
Current members of the Edison School Board could not be reached for comment.
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.