Rambhai Patel, a 37-year-old Indian national living in New York, pleads guilty to conspiracy in a federal court for his role in staging armed robberies aimed at facilitating fraudulent U.S. visa applications. Between March and December 2023, Patel orchestrated at least nine staged incidents across the United States, including five in Massachusetts, where store clerks were falsely portrayed as victims of violent crimes to qualify for U nonimmigrant visas designed for actual crime victims.
Federal prosecutors detail how Patel and his co-conspirators paid store owners to allow fake robberies, where mock robbers brandished imitation firearms and stole cash, all captured on security cameras. Some individuals reportedly disbursed as much as $20,000 to be considered victims, with at least two applying for visas after these contrived events. Facing up to five years in prison and a potential deportation, Patel’s case underscores a growing concern regarding the abuse of legal protections intended for genuine victims.
Read full story at indiawest.com
