India Tribune Newsdesk
Boston, MA: Federal prosecutors say a large visa fraud conspiracy involving staged armed robberies has led to the charging of eleven Indian nationals and the sentencing of the alleged organizer, in a scheme authorities say was designed to exploit a U.S. immigration program intended for victims of violent crime.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston, the defendants are accused of arranging fake robberies at convenience stores, liquor stores and fast-food restaurants so that participants could falsely claim to be crime victims when applying for U non-immigrant status, commonly known as a U Visa. The visa is available to individuals who have suffered mental or physical abuse as victims of certain crimes and who assist law enforcement in investigations or prosecutions.
The eleven individuals charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud are Jitendrakumar Patel, 39, of Marshfield, Massachusetts; Maheshkumar Patel, 36, of Randolph, Massachusetts; Sanjaykumar Patel, 45, of Quincy, Massachusetts; Dipikaben Patel, 40, who had been living in Weymouth, Massachusetts but 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, of Perrysburg, Ohio; and Mitul Patel, 40, of Worcester, Massachusetts.
Six of the defendants were arrested in Massachusetts and appeared in federal court in Boston, where they were released following initial hearings. The remaining defendants were arrested in Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio and are expected to appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
Prosecutors allege the scheme began in March 2023 and involved staged robberies at multiple businesses in Massachusetts and other states. During the incidents, a person posing as a robber allegedly threatened store clerks or owners with what appeared to be a firearm, took cash from the register and fled while the encounter was captured on surveillance video. Authorities say the clerks and store owners would then wait several minutes before calling police, allowing the suspect to escape and making the robbery appear genuine.
Investigators say the individuals posing as victims paid the organizer to participate in the staged crimes so they could later submit immigration applications claiming they had been victims of violence. In turn, the organizer allegedly paid store owners to allow their businesses to be used for the fake robberies.
Federal authorities said the scheme was organized by Rambhai Patel, an Indian national living in New York, who previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit visa fraud. He was sentenced to 20 months and eight days in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to forfeit approximately $850,000 that prosecutors say he earned from the operation. Patel is also subject to deportation after completing his sentence.
Court records state that Patel and a co-conspirator staged at least 18 robberies across the United States, including several in Massachusetts. In some cases, participants allegedly paid tens of thousands of dollars to be listed as victims in police reports that were later used in immigration filings.
Authorities said the newly charged defendants either helped arrange the staged robberies or paid for themselves or family members to take part as victims.
If convicted, each defendant faces up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and fines of up to $250,000. Prosecutors noted that the charges are allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
