An Indian national, residing in New York, pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to staging armed robberies in furtherance of a visa fraud conspiracy.

Rambhai Patel, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun scheduled sentencing for Aug. 20, 2025.

In December 2023, Patel was charged along with a co-conspirator.

"Beginning in March 2023, Patel and his alleged co-conspirator set up and carried out staged armed robberies of at least nine convenience/liquor stores and fast-food restaurants across the United States – including at least five in Massachusetts," read a statement issued by the US Department of Justice.

Staged robberies

The purpose of the staged robberies was to allow the store clerks to claim that they were victims of a violent crime on an application for U nonimmigrant 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 in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity. 

"During the staged robberies, the 'robber' would threaten store clerks and/or owners with an apparent firearm before taking cash from the register and fleeing, while the interaction was captured on store surveillance video," the statement said.

"The clerks and/or owners would then wait five or more minutes until the 'robber' had escaped before calling police to report the 'crime'," the statement said.

The “victims” paid Patel to participate in the scheme. One purported victim paid $20,000 to participate as a victim in one of the staged armed robberies. In turn, Patel paid the store owners for the use of their stores for the staged robbery.

At least two purported victim co-conspirators submitted U Visa applications based on being victims of the staged armed robberies.

Singh is scheduled to plead guilty on May 22, 2025.

Charge of conspiracy

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

The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed.

Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.