11 Indian Nationals Stage Fake Robbery To Secure America's 'U Visa', Arrested

Last Updated:March 14, 2026, 10:32 IST

All of them were residing unlawfully in different US states, including Massachusetts, Kentucky and Ohio.

At least eleven Indian nationals living illegally in the United States have been charged with visa fraud for allegedly conspiring to stage armed robberies at convenience stores, US federal prosecutors said.

Authorities said the accused organised fake robberies so that store clerks could falsely claim to be victims of violent crime in immigration applications in an attempt to obtain a Green Card.

Jitendrakumar Patel, 39, Maheshkumar Patel, 36, Sanjaykumar Patel, 45, Dipikaben Patel, 40, Rameshbhai Patel, 52, Amitabahen Patel, 43, Ronakkumar Patel, 28, Sangitaben Patel, 36, Minkesh Patel, 42, Sonal Patel, 42, and Mitul Patel, 40, have each been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud.

All of them were residing unlawfully in different US states, including Massachusetts, Kentucky and Ohio.

Dipikaben was deported to India after unlawfully living in Weymouth, Massachusetts, the Justice Department said in a statement.

Jitendrakumar, Maheshkumar, Sanjaykumar, Amitabahen, Sangitaben and Mitul were arrested in Massachusetts and released after an initial appearance in federal court in Boston on Friday.

Rameshbhai, Ronakkumar, Sonal and Minkesh were arrested and made their initial court appearances in Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio, and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.

According to the charging documents, in March 2023 Rambhai and his co-conspirators organised and carried out staged armed robberies at at least six convenience stores, liquor shops and fast-food restaurants in Massachusetts and other locations.

Prosecutors allege the purpose of the staged robberies was to enable clerks present at the stores to falsely claim they were victims of a violent crime while applying for U non-immigrant status, also known as a U Visa.

A U Visa is available to victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and who have been helpful to law enforcement in investigating or prosecuting criminal activity. It offers work authorisation and a potential pathway to a Green Card within five to ten years.

Authorities said that during the alleged staged robberies, the “robber" would threaten store clerks or owners with what appeared to be a firearm, take cash from the register and flee, while the entire interaction was recorded on store surveillance cameras.

The clerks or store owners would then wait at least five minutes until the “robber" had left before calling the police to report the “crime." Investigators said the “victims" allegedly paid Rambhai to take part in the scheme, while Rambhai in turn paid store owners to use their shops for the staged robberies.

Rambhai, along with the “robber" and the getaway driver, had previously been charged and convicted.

The 11 defendants charged on Friday are accused of either coordinating with the organiser to arrange the robberies or paying for themselves or a family member to take part as a “victim." The charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud carries a possible sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of USD 250,000.

(With inputs from PTI)

News world 11 Indian s Stage Fake Robbery To Secure America's 'U Visa', Arrested

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