An Indian national living in the United States has pleaded guilty to orchestrating a series of staged armed robberies across several states to help undocumented immigrants fraudulently secure U-visas, a special U.S. immigration benefit reserved for victims of serious crimes.
Rambhai Patel, 37, a New York resident, entered his guilty plea on Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Myong J. Joun in Boston to one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud. His sentencing has been scheduled for August 20, and he faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to USD 250,000. He may also face deportation following the completion of his sentence.
According to U.S. federal prosecutors, Patel and an accomplice carried out at least nine staged robberies at convenience stores and restaurants, including five in Massachusetts, beginning in March 2023. These fake incidents were meticulously planned to mimic violent crimes—complete with weapons, stolen cash, and surveillance footage—so that store employees or owners could falsely claim to be crime victims and apply for U nonimmigrant status (U-visas).
In exchange for participating in the scheme, the “victims” reportedly paid Patel large sums, including USD 20,000 in one instance. Patel, in turn, compensated store owners for allowing their businesses to be used in the staged crimes.
At least two individuals submitted U-visa applications based on these fabricated events. Patel was formally charged in December 2023, while his co-conspirator, identified only as Singh, is expected to plead guilty on May 22.
The U-visa program, introduced in 2000, was designed to offer legal relief to victims of certain crimes who assist law enforcement. However, cases like this highlight concerns over its misuse.
The investigation was led by the FBI and U.S. immigration authorities, with support from law enforcement agencies across Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Tennessee.