Eleven Indian nationals have been charged in the United States for allegedly taking part in a scheme that staged armed robberies at convenience stores so that store clerks could falsely claim to be crime victims on immigration applications.
According to US prosecutors, the accused face one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud. Several of the defendants were arrested in Boston, while others were taken into custody in states including Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio. Some of those arrested in Massachusetts appeared in federal court and were later released, while the remaining defendants are expected to appear before a federal court in Boston at a later date, official document revealed.
According to the charging documents, in March 2023, Rambhai Patel and his co-conspirators set up and carried out staged armed robberies of at least six convenience or liquor stores and fast food restaurants in Massachusetts and more elsewhere. It was alleged that the purpose of the staged robberies was to allow the clerks present to claim falsely that they were victims of a violent crime on an application for U non-immigration status (U Visa).
A U Visa was available to victims of certain crimes who suffered mental or physical abuse and who were helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity.
In the course of the alleged staged robberies, the “robber” threatened store clerks and or owners with an apparent firearm before taking cash from the register and fleeing, while the interaction was captured on store surveillance video. The clerks and or owners then waited five or more minutes until the “robber” escaped before calling police to report the “crime.” The “victims” were alleged to have each paid Patel to participate in the scheme. In turn, Patel allegedly paid the store owners for the use of their stores for the staged robbery.
Patel, the “robber,” and the getaway driver were previously charged and convicted. The 11 defendants charged today were alleged to have either arranged with the organiser to set up each robbery, or paid for themselves or a family member to participate as a “victim.”
The charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud provided for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences were imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the US Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which governed the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The details contained in the charging documents were allegations. The defendants were presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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; and
11. Mitul Patel, 40, unlawfully residing in Worcester, Mass.
