Boston. Eleven Indian citizens living illegally in America have been accused of conspiring to commit visa fraud. According to US government lawyers, these people had staged armed robberies at convenience stores as a shortcut to obtaining green cards. Officials said that the accused had deliberately planned a fake robbery in the shops. Its main purpose was to prevent clerks working in stores from reporting themselves as victims of crime on immigration applications.
Let us tell you that this entire conspiracy was hatched to obtain U-Visa. U-Visas are granted to immigrants who have been victims of crime, who have suffered mental or physical abuse and who have proven helpful in police investigations. This visa allows immigrants to work and paves the way to obtaining a green card within 5 to 10 years. The names of 11 people who have been accused of conspiracy to commit visa fraud in this case are-
Jitendra Kumar Patel (39), Mahesh Kumar Patel (36), Sanjay Kumar Patel (45), Deepika Ben Patel (40), Rameshbhai Patel (52), Amita Ben Patel (43), Raunak Kumar Patel (28), Sangeetaben Patel (36), Minkesh Patel (42), Sonal Patel (42) and Mitul Patel (40). All of them were living illegally in American states like Massachusetts, Kentucky and Ohio. Deepikaben Patel has been deported back to India for staying illegally in Weymouth, Massachusetts.
According to the charge sheet, in March 2023, the key conspirator identified as Rambhai and his associates carried out fake robberies of at least six convenience/liquor stores and fast food restaurants in Massachusetts and other locations. In this drama, the robber used to threaten the cashier or the owner by showing a gun in front of the CCTV camera and ran away with the money. Five minutes or more after the robber fled, the victimized clerk or owner would deliberately call the police to report the crime so that the case would appear real.
Investigation has revealed that these victims had given money to the organizer Rambhai to participate in this entire scheme. In return, Rambhai paid the store owners to allow their shops to be used for this fake robbery. Rambhai, the robber who staged the robbery and the driver who drove them away have already been convicted. This charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release and a fine of US$250,000.
