US: 11 Indians accused of conspiring to stage robberies to facilitate crime victim visa applications

Eleven Indian citizens have been charged in the United States with allegedly conspiring to stage armed robberies at convenience stores so that store clerks there could falsely claim to be victims of crime and apply for visas.

US prosecutors alleged that as part of the conspiracy, the store clerks were to claim that they were victims of violent crime on their applications for U non-immigration visas. The visas are meant for victims of crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse, and who have been helpful to law enforcement.

An Indian man named Rambhai Patel and his co-conspirators had in March 2023 staged armed robberies in at least six convenience stores and fast food restaurants in Massachusetts, as well as more such incidents elsewhere, according to the charging documents. Rambhai Patel was in August held guilty by a court in Boston and sentenced to 20 months and eight days in prison.

On Friday, 11 others were charged for either helping to stage the robberies, or to pay for themselves or a family member to take part in the conspiracy as a purported victim.

?#BREAKING: #FBI Boston's Violent Crimes Task Force has arrested 10 Indian nationals across MA, KY, MO, & OH for allegedly participating in staged armed robberies for the...

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