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10 Indians arrested in US for staging robberies to secure visas
Eleven Indian nationals have been charged in the United States for allegedly staging armed robberies at stores to falsely claim victim status while applying for U non-immigrant status, or U Visa.
A 29-year-old Rajasthan man has been arrested by Chandigarh Police for a $40,000 cryptocurrency scam targeting a city resident through a fake investment platform. (Representational Image)
US federal authorities have charged eleven Indian nationals for their alleged involvement in a scheme that staged armed robberies at convenience stores so store clerks could falsely claim to be victims of violent crime while applying for visa-related immigration benefits. Of these, 10 have been arrested.
The Staged Robbery Racket: How 11 Indian Nationals Allegedly Gamed the US Visa System
Starting March 2023, a coordinated scheme staged fake armed robberies at stores across Massachusetts — so clerks could pose as crime victims and fraudulently apply for U Visas.
11
Indians charged
10
Arrested so far
6+
Staged incidents
How the Scheme Worked
1
The Setup
Alleged victims paid the organiser to be included. Store owners were compensated for letting their businesses be used.
2
The "Robbery"
A fake robber entered the store, threatened employees with what appeared to be a firearm, took cash from the register and fled.
3
Caught on Camera
The encounter was recorded on store surveillance cameras — creating "evidence" of a real crime for the visa application.
4
Delayed Police Call
Clerks waited several minutes after the robber left before contacting police — a tell-tale sign investigators flagged.
5
The Visa Claim
Store clerks used the staged robbery to falsely claim victim status and apply for U non-immigrant (U Visa) status in the US.
6
Earlier Convictions
The fake robber, the scheme organiser and the getaway driver had already been charged and convicted before this week's arrests.
According to the Massachusetts District Attorney’s Office , the suspects face one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud. Those named in the case include Jitendrakumar Patel, 39, of Marshfield, Massachusetts; Maheshkumar Patel, 36, of Randolph, Massachusetts; Sanjaykumar Patel, 45, of Quincy, Massachusetts; Dipikaben Patel, 40, who previously lived in Weymouth, Massachusetts and has since been deported to India; Rameshbhai Patel, 52, of Eubank, Kentucky; Amitabahen Patel, 43, of Plainville, Massachusetts; Ronakkumar Patel, 28, of Maryland Heights, Missouri; Sangitaben Patel, 36, of Randolph, Massachusetts; Minkesh Patel, 42, of Perrysburg, Ohio; Sonal Patel, 42, also of Perrysburg, Ohio; and Mitul Patel, 40, of Worcester, Massachusetts.
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Six of the accused – Jitendrakumar Patel, Maheshkumar Patel, Sanjaykumar Patel, Amitabahen Patel, Sangitaben Patel and Mitul Patel – were arrested in Massachusetts and appeared in federal court in Boston on Friday. They were later released following the initial hearing.
The remaining – Rameshbhai Patel, Ronakkumar Patel, Sonal Patel and Minkesh Patel – were arrested in Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio and made their initial court appearances there. They are expected to appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
FBI investigators alleged that beginning in March 2023, Rambhai Patel and others organised staged armed robberies at several businesses, including convenience stores, liquor stores and fast-food outlets in Massachusetts, along with other locations. Authorities say at least six such incidents were carried out as part of the scheme.
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How they staged the robberies
They staged robberies to allegedly help store clerks falsely claim that they were victims of violent crimes when applying for U non-immigrant status, commonly known as the U Visa. The visa is intended for victims of certain crimes who have suffered physical or mental abuse and have cooperated with law enforcement in investigating or prosecuting criminal activity.
Prosecutors say the robberies were carefully planned. During the incidents, an individual posing as a robber allegedly threatened store employees with what appeared to be a firearm, took cash from the register and fled the scene. The encounters were captured on store surveillance cameras.
What the Accused Face If Convicted: Penalties Under US Visa Fraud Law
Charge:
Conspiracy to commit visa fraud — each of the 11 accused faces one count under US federal law.Maximum Penalties Per Accused
5
YEARS
Maximum prison sentence
3
YEARS
Supervised release after prison
$2,50,000
MAX FINE
Financial penalty per person
Note: Actual sentencing will be determined by a federal judge under US sentencing guidelines and relevant statutes. All accused are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
Authorities say the clerks or store owners involved in the scheme would wait several minutes after the robber left before contacting police to report the crime. The alleged victims are said to have paid Patel to take part in the operation, while Patel is accused of compensating store owners for allowing their businesses to be used for the staged robberies.
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The person accused of acting as the robber, along with the organiser and the getaway driver, had previously been charged and convicted in connection with the scheme.
According to prosecutors, the 11 defendants charged this week are accused of either coordinating with the organiser to set up the robberies or paying for themselves or family members to pose as victims.
If convicted, the charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Any sentence would be determined by a federal judge under US sentencing guidelines and relevant statutes.
US Attorney Leah B Foley and Ted E Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division, announced the charges. Authorities said the investigation received assistance from several federal agencies and law enforcement offices across multiple states, including the FBI, US Citizenship and Immigration Services, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and local police departments.
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The allegations outlined in the charge sheet have not yet been proven in court, and the accused are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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