11 Indians Charged in US Over Visa Fraud Involving Staged Robberies

PTI, March 14, 2026, New York: Eleven Indian nationals, living illegally in the US, have been charged with visa fraud for conspiring to carry out staged armed robberies of convenience shops, according to US federal prosecutors.

Authorities said the suspects are accused of organising fake robberies to allow store clerks to falsely claim they were crime victims on immigration applications in order to obtain a Green Card.

The individuals charged are Jitendrakumar Patel, 39; Maheshkumar Patel, 36; Sanjaykumar Patel, 45; Dipikaben Patel, 40; Rameshbhai Patel, 52; Amitabahen Patel, 43; Ronakkumar Patel, 28; Sangitaben Patel, 36; Minkesh Patel, 42; Sonal Patel, 42; and Mitul Patel, 40. They face one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud.

All were living unlawfully in various US states such as Massachusetts, Kentucky, and Ohio. Dipikaben Patel was deported to India after residing illegally in Weymouth, Massachusetts, the Justice Department said.

Jitendrakumar, Maheshkumar, Sanjaykumar, Amitabahen, Sangitaben, and Mitul were arrested in Massachusetts and released following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston on Friday. Rameshbhai, Ronakkumar, Sonal, and Minkesh were arrested in Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio; they will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.

According to charging documents, in March 2023, Rameshbhai and his co-conspirators carried out staged armed robberies of at least six convenience/liquor stores and fast food restaurants in Massachusetts and elsewhere. The purpose of the staged robberies was to allow clerks to falsely claim they were victims of a violent crime on applications for U non-immigration status (U Visa).

A U Visa is available to victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and who have been helpful to law enforcement. It provides work authorisation and a path to a Green Card within 5–10 years.

Authorities said that during the alleged staged robberies, the "robber" would threaten store clerks or owners with a firearm, take cash from the register, and flee, while the incident was recorded on store surveillance video. The clerks or store owners would then wait before calling the police. Each "victim" allegedly paid Rameshbhai to participate, and he paid the store owners for use of their stores.

Rameshbhai, the "robber," and the getaway driver were previously charged and convicted. The 11 defendants charged on Friday are alleged to have either arranged with the organiser to set up each robbery or paid for themselves or a family member to participate as a "victim."

The charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud carries a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of USD 250,000.