Indian national sentenced for staging armed robberies in visa fraud scheme

Highlights:

• Patel staged at least 18 armed robberies across multiple states, including Massachusetts, to facilitate U Visa applications.
• Co-conspirator Balwinder Singh also pleaded guilty and is scheduled for sentencing in September 2025.
• Victims paid thousands of dollars to participate in the scheme; one paid $20,000.
• Patel will serve 20 months and 8 days in prison, followed by two years supervised release, and faces deportation.
• The FBI and multiple U.S. agencies assisted in the investigation, highlighting a nationwide collaborative effort.

An Indian national living illegally in New York, identified as Rambhai Patel, 38, was sentenced in federal court in Boston for his role in a large-scale visa fraud conspiracy involving staged armed robberies. On August 20, 2025, US District Court Judge Myong J. Joun sentenced Patel to 20 months and eight days in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered the forfeiture of $850,000. Upon completing his sentence, Patel will face deportation proceedings.

Patel pleaded guilty in May 2025 to one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud after being charged alongside his co-conspirator, Balwinder Singh, in December 2023. Singh has also pleaded guilty and is scheduled for sentencing in September 2025.

Beginning in March 2023, Patel and Singh orchestrated staged armed robberies at a minimum of 18 convenience and liquor stores, as well as fast-food restaurants across the United States, including at least five in Massachusetts. The purpose was to create circumstances allowing store clerks to appear as victims of violent crimes, making them eligible for U nonimmigrant status (U Visa). This visa is reserved for victims of specific crimes who have experienced mental or physical abuse and have assisted law enforcement in investigations or prosecutions.

During each staged event, a “robber” would threaten store employees or owners with what appeared to be a firearm, take cash from the register, and then flee—all while store surveillance cameras captured the scenario. The so-called victims would wait until the robber was gone before notifying police. Participants in the scheme paid Patel substantial sums for the opportunity to stage these crimes, with at least one individual paying $20,000. Patel, in turn, compensated store owners for allowing the use of their premises.

At least two individuals involved in the scheme submitted U Visa applications based on their faked victimhood. The fraud operation garnered Patel around $850,000, which he must forfeit.

The investigation was a collaborative effort led by the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts and the FBI’s Boston Division, with assistance from various US Attorney’s offices, multiple state and local police departments, and federal immigration authorities. The case was prosecuted by Assistant US Attorneys Elianna J. Nuzum and Jessica L. Soto.