Eleven Indian nationals from Gujarat have been charged in the United States with conspiracy to commit visa fraud after allegedly staging armed robberies at convenience stores in Massachusetts to falsely claim victim status and qualify for U-visas, federal officials announced on Friday.
According to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, the group conspired to carry out fake robberies at multiple convenience stores, wine shops and fast-food outlets so that participating clerks could pose as victims of violent crime and apply for U-visas — immigration benefits granted to individuals who assist law enforcement.
The accused has been identified as Ronakkumar Patel (28), Sangitaben Patel (36), Minkesh Patel (42), Sonal Patel (42), Mitul Patel (40), Jitendrakumar Patel (39), Maheshkumar Patel (36), Sanjaykumar Patel (45), Dipikaben Patel (40), Rameshbhai Patel (52) and Amitabahen Patel (43).
Investigators revealed that several members of the group were already living unlawfully in the United States.
Six of the conspirators arrested in Massachusetts were produced before the federal court in Boston on Friday.
The remaining accused, detained in Ohio, Missouri and Kentucky, are expected to face charges in Boston in the coming week.
The investigation found that the group paid an organiser to coordinate the fake robberies. In each incident, a person posing as a robber would enter the store, threaten clerks with a firearm, and flee with cash — with the entire scene recorded on surveillance cameras.
Officials said the clerks (part of the conspiracy) intentionally delayed calling police to make the incidents appear genuine.
The organiser and driver had already been arrested and convicted earlier in related cases.
If convicted, the accused face up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and fines of up to $250,000. The case is being investigated by the FBI and immigration authorities.
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