How Indians in US faked gunpoint robberies to claim victim status; 11 booked for visa fraud

Eleven Indian nationals living illegally in the US have been charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud by organising staged armed robberies at convenience stores and restaurants.

According to federal prosecutors, the suspects arranged fake robberies in which a person posing as a robber threatened store clerks with an apparent firearm and took cash while the incident was recorded on surveillance cameras.

The clerks later reported the crime to police and claimed they were victims of violent crime to apply for a U visa, which offers work authorisation and a path to a Green Card. Authorities say participants allegedly paid the organiser to take part in the scheme.

Jitendrakumar Patel, 39, Maheshkumar Patel, 36, Sanjaykumar Patel, 45, Dipikaben Patel, 40, Rameshbhai Patel, 52, Amitabahen Patel, 43, Ronakkumar Patel, 28, Sangitaben Patel, 36, Minkesh Patel, 42, Sonal Patel, 42 and Mitul Patel, 40 have been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud.

They all were living unlawfully in various US states such as Massachusetts, Kentucky and Ohio.

Dipikaben was deported to India after unlawfully residing in Weymouth, Massachusetts, the Justice Department said in a statement.

Jitendrakumar, Maheshkumar, Sanjaykumar, Amitabahen, Sangitaben and Mitul were arrested in Massachusetts and released following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston on Friday.

The charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of USD 250,000.

Here is a point-wise explanation of how the visa fraud scheme was carried out:

Planning the scheme

An organiser (identified as Rambhai in the case) and his associates planned staged robberies at convenience stores, liquor shops and fast-food outlets.

Recruiting participants

Indian nationals living illegally in the US allegedly paid the organiser to participate in the scheme as “victims.”

Arranging the location

The organiser allegedly paid store owners to allow their shops to be used for the fake robberies.

Staging the robbery

A person acting as the “robber” entered the shop with an apparent firearm, threatened the clerk or owner and took cash from the register.

Recording the incident

The staged robbery was captured on the store’s surveillance cameras to make the incident appear genuine.

Delayed police report

The clerks or owners waited at least five minutes after the “robber” left before calling police to report the crime.

Claiming victim status

The participants then filed immigration applications claiming they were victims of violent crime.

Using the U-Visa programme

They allegedly tried to obtain a U Visa, which is meant for victims of serious crimes who assist law enforcement.

Immigration benefits

A successful U-Visa application could provide work authorization and a pathway to a Green Card within 5–10 years.

Law enforcement detection

Authorities later uncovered the scheme, and the organiser, robber and getaway driver were previously charged and convicted, while 11 others have now been charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud.

PTI inputs