Strange case of two Indians who staged pretend robberies that helped in acquiring US visa – OXBIG NEWS NETWORK

An Indian nationwide dwelling within the United States has pleaded responsible to staging armed robberies at retail shops throughout a number of American states to assist people fraudulently get hold of US immigration advantages.

Rambhai Patel, 37, a resident of New York, entered a responsible plea on Tuesday earlier than U.S District Judge Myong J. Joun in Boston to at least one depend of conspiracy to commit visa fraud. Sentencing has been scheduled for August 20.

According to US federal prosecutors, Patel and a co-conspirator Balwinder Singh carried out not less than 9 staged robberies at comfort shops and eating places—5 of them in Massachusetts—starting in March 2023. The function was to manufacture violent crime situations in order that retailer clerks or homeowners might apply for U nonimmigrant standing (U Visa), a particular visa granted to victims of significant crimes who help regulation enforcement.

Surveillance footage confirmed a pretend robber brandishing a weapon, stealing money, and fleeing the scene. The “victims,” who had paid Patel giant sums—as much as USD 20,000 in a single case—would then wait earlier than reporting the incident to police. Patel in flip paid retailer homeowners for entry to the premises.

At least two people submitted U visa functions based mostly on these staged incidents.

Patel was charged in December 2023. His co-conspirator, recognized as Singh, is predicted to plead responsible on May 22.

The cost carries a most sentence of 5 years in jail, three years of supervised launch, and a nice of as much as USD 250,000. Patel additionally faces deportation after finishing his sentence.

The case was investigated by the FBI and U.S. immigration authorities with help from a number of regulation enforcement businesses in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Tennessee.