Eleven Indian nationals have been charged in the United States over an alleged scheme in which armed robberies were staged at stores so clerks or owners could falsely claim they were victims of violent crime and use those claims in immigration applications, U.S. prosecutors in Massachusetts said Friday. The defendants each face one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud.
🚨#BREAKING: #FBI Boston’s Violent Crimes Task Force has arrested 10 Indian nationals across MA, KY, MO, & OH for allegedly participating in staged armed robberies for the purpose of allowing store clerks to claim they were “victims” of violent crime so they could apply for… pic.twitter.com/SG4oQW9z1t
Arrests were made in several states, with six defendants taken into custody in Massachusetts and others arrested in Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, some of those arrested in Boston were released after making an initial court appearance, while the remaining defendants are expected to appear in federal court in Boston later.
Prosecutors allege the operation began in March 2023, when Rambhai Patel and others organized staged armed robberies at at least six convenience stores, liquor stores and fast food restaurants in Massachusetts, along with other locations elsewhere. Investigators say the goal was to help participants falsely present themselves as victims of violent crime on applications for a ‘U’ non-immigrant status, commonly known as a ‘U Visa’.
A ‘U Visa’ is available to victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and have assisted law enforcement in investigating or prosecuting criminal activity. Federal prosecutors say the staged incidents were designed to create false evidence for those applications.
According to court documents, the alleged “robber” would threaten store clerks or owners with what appeared to be a firearm, take cash from the register and flee, while surveillance cameras recorded the encounter. Prosecutors say the supposed victims then waited at least five minutes before calling police. Authorities allege the participants paid Patel to take part, and that Patel in turn paid store owners to use their businesses for the staged crimes.
Prosecutors said Patel, the alleged robber and the getaway driver were already charged and convicted in the case. The 11 newly charged defendants are accused of either arranging the staged robberies with the organizer or paying for themselves or relatives to appear as victims. One earlier court filing in the broader case alleged that at least two co-conspirators submitted U Visa applications based on the staged incidents.
The accused are: 1. Jitendrakumar Patel, 39, unlawfully residing in Marshfield, Mass.; 2. Maheshkumar Patel, 36, unlawfully residing in Randolph, Mass.; 3. Sanjaykumar Patel, 45, unlawfully residing in Quincy, Mass.; 4. Dipikaben Patel, 40, deported to India after unlawfully residing in Weymouth, Mass.; 5. Rameshbhai Patel, 52, unlawfully residing in Eubank, Ky.; 6. Amitabahen Patel, 43, unlawfully residing in Plainville, Mass.; 7. Ronakkumar Patel, 28, unlawfully residing in Maryland Heights, Miss.; 8. Sangitaben Patel, 36, unlawfully residing in Randolph, Mass.; 9. Minkesh Patel, 42, unlawfully residing in Perrysburg, Ohio; 10. Sonal Patel, 42, unlawfully residing in Perrysburg, Ohio; and11. Mitul Patel, 40, unlawfully residing in Worcester, Mass.
The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
