Boston: Authorities in the United States have charged eleven Gujarat-origin Indian nationals for allegedly orchestrating a conspiracy involving staged armed robberies at convenience stores and restaurants in order to fraudulently obtain immigration benefits.

According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, the accused allegedly staged robberies so that store clerks could falsely claim they were victims of violent crimes while applying for a U non-immigrant visa (U Visa), a special visa available to crime victims who assist law enforcement.

Defendants Charged

Those charged with one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud include:

1.      Jitendrakumar Patel, 39, unlawfully residing in Marshfield, Mass.;
2.      Maheshkumar Patel, 36, unlawfully residing in Randolph, Mass.;
3.      Sanjaykumar Patel, 45, unlawfully residing in Quincy, Mass.;
4.      Dipikaben Patel, 40, deported to India after unlawfully residing in Weymouth, Mass.;
5.      Rameshbhai Patel, 52, unlawfully residing in Eubank, Ky.;
6.      Amitabahen Patel, 43, unlawfully residing in Plainville, Mass.;
7.      Ronakkumar Patel, 28, unlawfully residing in Maryland Heights, Miss.;
8.      Sangitaben Patel, 36, unlawfully residing in Randolph, Mass.;
9.      Minkesh Patel, 42, unlawfully residing in Perrysburg, Ohio;
10.  Sonal Patel, 42, unlawfully residing in Perrysburg, Ohio; and
11.  Mitul Patel, 40, unlawfully residing in Worcester, Mass.

Six of the accused were arrested in Massachusetts and appeared in federal court in Boston on Friday before being released. The remaining defendants were arrested in other states, including Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio, and are expected to appear in a federal court in Boston at a later date.

How the Alleged Scheme Worked

Investigators say the conspiracy began around March 2023, when the accused and their associates allegedly arranged fake armed robberies at at least six convenience stores, liquor shops, and fast-food restaurants in Massachusetts, with additional incidents believed to have occurred elsewhere.

During these staged robberies, a person posing as a robber allegedly threatened clerks or store owners with what appeared to be a firearm, took cash from the register, and fled while the incident was recorded on store surveillance cameras. Clerks or owners would reportedly wait several minutes before contacting police, allowing the robber to escape.

Authorities claim that the clerks involved paid the organiser to stage the robberies so they could later claim they were victims of violent crimes on immigration applications. In some cases, the organiser allegedly paid store owners for allowing their premises to be used in the staged crimes.

The alleged robber, getaway driver, and organiser involved in the scheme had previously been charged and convicted. The eleven individuals charged in the latest case are accused of either arranging the robberies or paying for themselves or family members to participate as supposed victims.

Possible Penalties

If convicted, the defendants could face up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, according to federal authorities.

Officials emphasized that the allegations remain part of an ongoing legal process and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. DeshGujarat