IBNS-CMEDIA: Eleven Indian nationals have been charged in the United States for allegedly participating in a conspiracy to stage armed robberies at convenience stores in order to falsely claim victim status on immigration applications.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office, the defendants have been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud.
Those charged include: Jitendrakumar Patel, 39, unlawfully residing in Marshfield, Massachusetts; Maheshkumar Patel, 36, unlawfully residing in Randolph, Massachusetts; Sanjaykumar Patel, 45, unlawfully residing in Quincy, Massachusetts; Dipikaben Patel, 40, who has been deported to India after unlawfully residing in Weymouth, Massachusetts; Rameshbhai Patel, 52, unlawfully residing in Eubank, Kentucky; Amitabahen Patel, 43, unlawfully residing in Plainville, Massachusetts; Ronakkumar Patel, 28, unlawfully residing in Maryland Heights, Missouri; Sangitaben Patel, 36, unlawfully residing in Randolph, Massachusetts; Minkesh Patel, 42, unlawfully residing in Perrysburg, Ohio; Sonal Patel, 42, unlawfully residing in Perrysburg, Ohio; and Mitul Patel, 40, unlawfully residing in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Jitendrakumar Patel, Maheshkumar Patel, Sanjaykumar Patel, Amitabahen Patel, Sangitaben Patel and Mitul Patel were arrested in Massachusetts and appeared in federal court in Boston earlier on Friday before being released.
Rameshbhai Patel, Ronakkumar Patel, Sonal Patel and Minkesh Patel were arrested and made their initial appearances in federal courts in Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio, respectively.
“They will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date,” the United States Attorney’s Office said in a statement.
According to charging documents, beginning in March 2023, Rambhai Patel and his alleged co-conspirators organised and carried out staged armed robberies at at least six convenience stores, liquor stores and fast-food restaurants in Massachusetts, along with additional locations elsewhere.
Prosecutors allege the robberies were staged so that store clerks could falsely claim to be victims of violent crime while applying for U Visa, a form of non-immigrant status available to victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and who assist law enforcement in investigating or prosecuting criminal activity.
In the alleged scheme, a “robber” would threaten store clerks or owners with what appeared to be a firearm before taking cash from the register and fleeing. The incidents were captured on store surveillance cameras.
Clerks or owners would then reportedly wait at least five minutes after the suspect had fled before calling police to report the robbery.
Authorities allege the purported “victims” paid Patel to participate in the scheme, while Patel allegedly paid store owners to allow their premises to be used for the staged robberies.
The alleged robber, the organiser and the getaway driver had previously been charged and convicted in connection with the scheme.
The 11 defendants charged in the latest case are accused of either arranging the staged robberies with the organiser or paying to participate as “victims” themselves or on behalf of family members.
The charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
Authorities noted that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
