Indian national Rambhal Patel, based in New York, pleaded guilty to staging armed robberies at nine locations across different U.S. states.
The purpose of the staged robberies was to help illegal Indian immigrants claim U-visas, which offer deportation relief to victims of certain crimes.
Indian National Rambhal Patel Pleads Guilty to Staging Armed Robberies Across U.S. States
Patel was likely paid $20,000 for each fake robbery used to support a fraudulent U-visa application.
He entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Myong J. Joun in Boston and will be sentenced on August 20.
Patel was officially charged in December 2023, alongside a co-conspirator.
Surveillance footage from one staged robbery showed a burglar brandishing a weapon, stealing money, and fleeing, with the “victims” having paid Patel to take part.
One participant paid $20,000 (around Rs 17.43 lakh) to be involved in a staged robbery.
Store owners were also involved; Patel compensated them for allowing their premises to be used for the fake robberies.
Beginning in March 2023, Patel and his alleged co-conspirator staged at least nine robberies, including five in Massachusetts.
Undocumented Clerks Used Staged Crimes to Seek U-Visas
The clerks involved were undocumented immigrants who used the fake crimes to file for U non-immigrant status (U-Visa).
The U-Visa is intended for victims of specific crimes who have experienced abuse and cooperated with law enforcement in investigations or prosecutions.
The U-Visa program was established in 2000 to encourage undocumented immigrants to report crimes.
At least two of Patel’s co-conspirators filed U-Visa applications based on the staged robberies.
The co-conspirator, identified as Singh, is expected to plead guilty on May 22.
The charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
In a separate incident, two Indian nationals in Fairfield County, Connecticut, were charged for staging a fake robbery in March.
During police questioning, shop owner Birenkumar Patel admitted the robbery was staged to help clerk Laxitkumar Patel remain in the U.S. through the U-Visa program.
The clerk had called the police to report the fake robbery, according to a statement from the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office.
