US EditionIndian nationals faked robberies in Mass. for visa fraud scheme, DOJ says
The scheme allowed store clerks to claim violent crime victim status on visa applications, involving six staged robberies in Massachusetts in March 2023.
- Federal prosecutors announced Friday that Eleven Indian nationals face charges for allegedly staging robberies to help clerks apply for visas, with initial appearances in Boston federal court.
- In March 2023, investigators say co‑conspirators staged armed robberies at at least six Massachusetts stores so clerks could claim victim status on U visas, with Rambhai Patel paying store owners to participate.
- The alleged operation worked like this: an alleged 'robber' threatened store clerks with a firearm, seized cash on store surveillance footage, and clerks waited at least five minutes before calling police.
- Six defendants arrested in Massachusetts, others in Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio, all face conspiracy to commit visa fraud with penalties up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
- This case raises questions about integrity in the victim‑based visa system as the United States Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney's Office charged Eleven individuals in multiple federal districts.
34 Articles
34 Articles
How feds say 11 people used fake robberies to game the immigration system
Federal prosecutors have charged 11 Indian residents of Massachusetts and other states with taking part in a scheme to stage armed robberies of convenience stores so the store clerks could claim to be crime victims on their U.S. immigration applications.As supposed robbery victims, the people could apply for U non-immigration status, or U visas, immigration documents available to victims of certain crimes who assist law enforcement in their inve…
Script, camera, robbery: FBI charges 11 Indians for faking store thefts for visa
New York: Eleven Indian nationals, living illegally in the US, have been charged with visa fraud for carrying out staged armed robberies of at least six convenience/liquor stores and fast food restaurants in Massachusetts and elsewhere. According to the charging documents, in March 2023, Rambhai and his co-conspirators set up and carried out staged armed robberies of at least six convenience/liquor stores and fast food restaurants in Massachuset…
Ten Indians Arrested In US For Staging Robberies To Secure Visas
Ten Indian nationals were arrested across four US states for allegedly participating in staged armed robberies at convenience stores and restaurants. The scheme was designed to allow store clerks to falsely claim victim status and apply for U non-immigrant visas, which are reserved for victims of certain crimes. An eleventh individual was charged and deported to India. All accused face conspiracy to commit visa fraud charges, which carry signifi…
How Indians in US faked gunpoint robberies to claim victim status; 11 booked for visa fraud - The Tribune
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 US$ 250,000.
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