(BOSTON) An Indian national who arranged staged armed robberies so people could claim to be crime victims for immigration benefits was sentenced to prison in Massachusetts, federal prosecutors said. Rambhai Patel, 37, of New York, received 20 months and eight days in federal prison, two years of supervised release, and must forfeit $850,000. He is also subject to deportation after finishing his sentence. Patel pleaded guilty in May 2025 to one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud in a case the U.S. Attorney’s Office called a Visa Fraud Conspiracy targeting the U visa system of the United States 🇺🇸.
Prosecutors said Patel and co-conspirator Balwinder Singh began staging robberies in March 2023 at convenience stores, liquor shops, and fast-food restaurants across the country, including at least five in Massachusetts. The setup looked real: the “robber” displayed what appeared to be a gun, took cash from the register, and ran while security cameras recorded the scene. Clerks and store owners then waited five or more minutes before calling the police to make the report look genuine.
Authorities said the real goal was immigration benefits. The staged “victims” later used the police reports and video to support U visa applications, which are for victims of certain crimes who suffered mental or physical abuse and helped law enforcement. At least two purported victim co-conspirators filed U visa applications based on these fake robberies, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Patel treated the scheme like a business. One “victim” paid $20,000 to be part of a staged robbery. Patel also paid store owners to use their shops. By the time investigators moved in, Patel had taken in about $850,000, all of which he must give up as part of the sentence. Prosecutors said he faces removal from the country when his prison term ends.
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the sentence with Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Special Agent in Charge Ted E. Docks. The case drew help from the FBI’s New York and Seattle Field Offices; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of New York and the Western District of Washington; Massachusetts State Police; the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office; and police departments in Hingham, Marshfield, Randolph, Weymouth, Worcester, Upper Darby (Pa.), West Pittston (Pa.), Louisville (Ky.), and Bean Station (Tenn.). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elianna J. Nuzum and Jessica L. Soto of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
According to prosecutors, Singh pleaded guilty in May 2025 and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 24, 2025. Both men were first charged in December 2023. The network reached at least 18 locations nationwide before it was shut down, including stores in multiple states and at least five sites in Massachusetts.
USCIS said it provided valuable assistance to the investigation, underscoring the agency’s stated focus on protecting the integrity of the immigration system. The agency encourages the public to report suspected benefit fraud or abuse. Members of the public can submit tips through the USCIS Tip Form.
How the staged armed robberies were used
Investigators said the staged armed robberies followed a consistent pattern.
- A participant acted as the robber, threatened the clerk with an apparent firearm, grabbed cash, and ran.
- The clerk waited several minutes before calling police, creating a record of a violent crime.
- That record and the surveillance video were then used in U visa filings.
The U visa is intended for victims of specific crimes who suffered mental or physical harm and who cooperated with law enforcement. It aims to encourage people — including those without lawful status — to work with police without fear. In this case, prosecutors said the crime was fake: clerks or owners knew about the plan, paid to join it, and hoped to gain immigration status through false claims.
Patel’s role included:
- Organizing the events
- Recruiting participants
- Coordinating use of stores
- Collecting payments and profiting from the scheme
Stores received payments for allowing staged crimes, prosecutors said.
Criminal penalties and consequences
Key outcomes from the case:
- Patel’s sentence: 20 months and eight days in federal prison
- Supervised release: two years
- Forfeiture: $850,000
- Immigration consequence: subject to deportation after sentence
- Singh: pleaded guilty (May 2025); sentencing set for September 24, 2025
One participant reportedly paid $20,000 to be part of a staged robbery. Overall, investigators say Patel took in about $850,000, which the court ordered forfeited.
Impact on U visa vetting and community trust
Cases like this can harm the U visa program and public safety in several ways:
- Fraud can slow processing for genuine applicants who truly suffered harm and cooperated with authorities.
- Investigators must spend more time vetting records, delaying relief for families seeking safety and stability.
- False claims can erode public trust and make real victims less willing to work with law enforcement.
Prosecutors emphasized that the case does not change the core promise of the U visa program — to support public safety by bringing victims forward — but it shows how a few people can try to game the system. Analysis cited by VisaVerge.com notes Patel’s sentence and forfeiture reflect steep penalties for those who plan or fund schemes that exploit humanitarian programs for profit.
Advice and warnings for different groups:
- For immigration lawyers and community groups:
- Coaching clients to take part in fake crimes is a criminal act that can result in prison, asset forfeiture, and removal from the United States.
- For store owners and employers:
- Lending a business to a sham robbery can lead to criminal charges.
- For applicants:
- Any benefit earned through false claims can be taken away and can harm future immigration options.
“Protecting the integrity of the immigration process is a priority,” USCIS said, urging the public to share leads when something looks wrong.
Officials urged anyone who suspects immigration benefit fraud to report it. Tips can be filed online through the USCIS website’s Tip Form.
Investigation, evidence, and coordination
Law enforcement credited close coordination among federal, state, and local partners for breaking up the scheme. The FBI’s Boston office led the case announcement, with help from teams in New York and Seattle, prosecutors, and police across several states.
Evidence that formed a pattern included:
- Surveillance video showing staged incidents
- Phone records and call timing
- Delayed 911 calls after the staged robberies
- Repeated use of the same modus operandi across locations
That pattern led to charges in December 2023, guilty pleas in May 2025, and sentencing by August 2025.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said the investigation covered robberies in multiple states, with at least five in Massachusetts. The careful sequencing — threat with an apparent firearm, quick cash grab, delayed 911 call — was key evidence. At least two fake victims tried to turn those reports into immigration filings, prosecutors said.
USCIS reiterated that protecting program integrity helps officers move faster on real cases and supports public safety goals across the United States 🇺🇸. The agency encourages anyone with information to submit tips via the USCIS Tip Form.
This Article in a Nutshell
Federal prosecutors sentenced 37‑year‑old Rambhai Patel to 20 months and eight days in prison, two years of supervised release, and ordered forfeiture of $850,000 after he pleaded guilty in May 2025 to conspiring to commit visa fraud. Patel and co‑conspirator Balwinder Singh began staging armed robberies in March 2023 at convenience stores, liquor shops, and fast‑food restaurants across at least 18 locations nationwide, including five in Massachusetts. Actors displayed apparent firearms while security cameras recorded; clerks delayed calling police so victims could later use reports and video to support fraudulent U visa applications. Participants paid up to $20,000, and Patel paid store owners to use their premises. The investigation involved the FBI, USCIS, multiple U.S. Attorney’s Offices, state police, and local departments. Prosecutors warned the scheme undermines the U visa program, slows legitimate applications, and urged reporting suspected fraud via the USCIS Tip Form. Co‑conspirator Singh pleaded guilty and faces sentencing on September 24, 2025; both men were first charged in December 2023.
