Federal authorities say 11 Indian nationals were charged in a scheme to stage armed robberies at convenience stores and restaurants so participants could falsely claim to be crime victims when applying for immigration benefits.
The defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Massachusetts.
Prosecutors said the scam revolved around staged robberies in order to assist clerks or store owners in obtaining U visas, a type of immigration relief offered to some victims of major crimes who cooperate with police enforcement.
Six defendants were taken into custody in Massachusetts and released following their initial hearings in federal court in Boston. Others have been arrested in Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio and are likely to appear in Boston later.
Authorities stated the 11th defendant had previously been deported to India.
According to the documents, the alleged conspiracy began in March 2023 and involves at least six convenience stores, liquor stores, and fast-food restaurants in Massachusetts, with other events occurring elsewhere.
Investigators claim the simulated robberies followed a script.
A supposed robber would enter a shop, frighten clerks or owners with what seemed to be a gun, steal cash from the register, and depart.
According to authorities, the encounters were captured on store surveillance footage, which helped provide the appearance of legitimate crimes.
Authorities claim the clerks or owners then waited five minutes or more before notifying police, giving the alleged thief time to flee and making the instances appear genuine.
Prosecutors allege that the individuals depicted as victims paid an organizer to take part in the scheme. The organizer, in turn, allegedly compensated store owners for using their establishments as heist spots.
According to federal investigators, the alleged organizer, robber, and getaway driver had already been charged and convicted in the case. The 11 people detained this week are accused of either planning robberies with the organizer or paying to have themselves or their family classified as victims.
The offense of conspiracy to commit visa fraud carries a maximum punishment of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Any penalty would be determined by a federal judge.
According to a news release from the Massachusetts Department of Justice, the following suspects have been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud:
- Jitendrakumar Patel, 39, unlawfully residing in Marshfield, Massachusetts
- Maheshkumar Patel, 36, unlawfully residing in Randolph, Massachusetts
- Sanjaykumar Patel, 45, unlawfully residing in Quincy, Massachusetts
- Dipikaben Patel, 40, deported to India after unlawfully residing in Weymouth, Massachusetts
- Rameshbhai Patel, 52, unlawfully residing in Eubank, Kentucky
- Amitabahen Patel, 43, unlawfully residing in Plainville, Massachusetts
- Ronakkumar Patel, 28, unlawfully residing in Maryland Heights, Mississippi
- Sangitaben Patel, 36, unlawfully residing in Randolph, Massachusetts
- Minkesh Patel, 42, unlawfully residing in Perrysburg, Ohio
- Sonal Patel, 42, unlawfully residing in Perrysburg, Ohio
- Mitul Patel, 40, unlawfully residing in Worcester, Massachusetts
