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Eleven Indian nationals, dwelling illegally within the U.S., have been charged with visa fraud for conspiring to hold out staged armed robberies of comfort outlets, based on U.S. federal prosecutors.
Authorities stated the suspects are accused of organising faux robberies for the aim of permitting the shop clerks to falsely declare they have been crime victims on immigration functions in direction of getting a Inexperienced Card.
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 depend of conspiracy to commit visa fraud.
All of them have been dwelling unlawfully in numerous U.S. states equivalent to Massachusetts, Kentucky and Ohio.
Dipikaben was deported to India after unlawfully residing in Weymouth, Massachusetts, the Justice Division stated in a press release.
Jitendrakumar, Maheshkumar, Sanjaykumar, Amitabahen, Sangitaben and Mitul have been arrested in Massachusetts and launched following an preliminary look in federal court docket in Boston on Friday (March 13, 2026).
Rameshbhai, Ronakkumar, Sonal and Minkesh have been arrested and made their preliminary appearances in Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio. They’ll seem in federal court docket in Boston at a later date.
In line with the charging paperwork, in March 2023, Rambhai and his co-conspirators arrange and carried out staged armed robberies of not less than six comfort/liquor shops and quick meals eating places in Massachusetts and elsewhere.
It’s alleged that the aim of the staged robberies was to permit the clerks current to falsely declare that they have been victims of a violent crime on an utility for a U non-immigration standing (U Visa).
A U Visa is on the market to victims of sure crimes who’ve suffered psychological or bodily abuse and who’ve been useful to regulation enforcement within the investigation or prosecution of legal exercise. The U visa affords an immigrant work authorisation and a path to a Inexperienced Card inside 5–10 years.
Authorities stated that in the midst of the alleged staged robberies, the “robber” would threaten retailer clerks or the house owners with an obvious firearm earlier than taking money from the register and fleeing, whereas the interplay was captured on retailer surveillance video.
The clerks or the shop house owners would then wait 5 or extra minutes till the “robber” had escaped earlier than calling the police to report the “crime.” The “victims” are alleged to have every paid Rambhai to take part within the scheme. In flip, Rambhai allegedly paid the shop house owners for using their shops for the staged theft.
Rambhai, the “robber,” and the getaway driver have been beforehand charged and convicted.
The 11 defendants charged on Friday (March 13, 2026) are alleged to have both organized with the organiser to arrange every theft, or paid for themselves or a member of the family to take part as a “sufferer.” The cost of conspiracy to commit visa fraud gives for a sentence of as much as 5 years in jail, three years of supervised launch and a high-quality of $250,000.
Printed – March 14, 2026 09:12 am IST