Eleven Indian nationals have been charged in the United States for allegedly participating in a conspiracy to stage armed robberies so individuals could falsely claim immigration benefits.
The charges were announced by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts on Friday. Prosecutors said the defendants “participated in staged armed robberies of convenience stores for the purpose of allowing store clerks to falsely claim they were crime victims on immigration applications.”
According to investigators, the alleged scheme began around March 2023 when Rambhai Patel and several co-conspirators organised fake robberies at convenience stores, liquor shops and fast-food restaurants across Massachusetts.
Authorities said the staged incidents were designed to support applications for a U visa, an immigration benefit granted to victims of specific crimes who have suffered abuse and assist law enforcement during investigations.
Court documents state that during the staged robberies, a person posing as the robber would threaten store clerks or owners with what appeared to be a firearm before taking cash from the register and fleeing. The clerks or owners would then wait several minutes—often five or more—before calling police to report the crime.
Prosecutors also allege that those claiming to be victims paid an organiser to take part in the scheme. “The ‘victims’ are alleged to have each paid Patel to participate in the scheme,” the charging documents said.
In addition, investigators claim the organiser paid certain store owners to allow their premises to be used for the staged robberies.
Officials said the alleged organiser, the individual who carried out the robberies and the getaway driver had already been charged and convicted earlier in connection with the case.
The eleven defendants charged in the latest development are accused of either arranging the robberies with the organiser or paying to participate themselves or on behalf of family members.
Six of the accused were arrested in Massachusetts and appeared in federal court in Boston on Friday. Others were arrested in Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio and are expected to appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.
The charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
