A federal grand jury in Boston has indicted ten Indian nationals for their alleged involvement in a conspiracy to stage armed robberies at convenience stores.
The scheme was reportedly designed to allow store clerks to pose as crime victims, thereby enabling them to apply for specialist American immigration visas.
The defendants, who range in age from 28 to 52 and reside across several states including Massachusetts, Kentucky, and Ohio, have each been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud. While all ten had been previously charged and released on conditions, two — Rameshbhai Patel and Ronakkumar Patel — have now been taken into immigration custody. All involved face potential deportation once legal proceedings conclude.
According to court documents, the plot was orchestrated by Rambhai Patel and a getaway driver, Balwinder Singh, both of whom were convicted last year. The gang is reportedly responsible for at least six “robberies” at liquor stores and fast-food restaurants in 2023. In this case, a hired “robber” will allegedly use a gun to intimidate employees and steal money from the cash register, and the incident is recorded via CCTV cameras. To make the process more realistic, the “victims” will not report the crime until several minutes after the “perpetrator” has left the scene.
The purpose of the operation is to obtain a U-Visa, which can only be obtained by a person who has experienced violence, mental or physical abuse, and helped law enforcement authorities with their investigation. According to the claims, the people hoping to receive the visas paid the organiser to engage in such activity, and storeowners received payment for using their stores as a location.
If convicted, the defendants face up to five years in prison and substantial fines. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Leah B Foley and FBI Special Agent in Charge Ted E. Docks, who credited an extensive investigation involving numerous state and local police departments. Despite the indictments, the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
