"The scheme began in March 2023, when Rambhai Patel, then 36, carried out staged armed robberies with co-conspirators at at least six convenience stores, liquor stores, and fast food restaurants in Massachusetts and other states. Prosecutors said the robberies were designed to help store clerks falsely claim they were victims of violent crimes in applications for U nonimmigrant status, commonly known as a U visa."
"According to charging documents, the staged robberies followed a similar pattern: A 'robber' would enter the business, threaten clerks with what appeared to be a firearm, take cash from the register and flee, while the incident was captured on surveillance video. Clerks or store owners would then wait at least five minutes after the robber left before reporting the incident to police."
"A U Visa is available to victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and who assist law enforcement in investigating or prosecuting criminal activity."
Federal authorities charged 11 Indian nationals, all sharing the surname Patel, in a visa fraud conspiracy. The scheme involved staging armed robberies at convenience stores, liquor stores, and fast food restaurants across multiple states beginning in March 2023. The robberies were orchestrated to enable store clerks to falsely claim they were violent crime victims on U visa applications. The staged robberies followed a consistent pattern: a perpetrator would enter a business, threaten clerks with a firearm, steal cash, and flee while surveillance cameras recorded the incident. Clerks would then report the crimes to police after a delay. Seven defendants were arrested in Massachusetts and released after federal court appearances, while four others faced proceedings in Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio. One defendant was deported to India.
Read at Boston.com
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