Boston, MA: A series of supposed armed robberies at convenience stores, liquor outlets, and fast-food chains across New York and Massachusetts turned out to be part of an elaborate scheme organized by an Indian-origin man.
Rambhai Patel, 37, was sentenced last week to 20 months and eight days in federal prison for planning and executing at least 18 fake robberies between March 2023 and early 2024. The scams were designed to help people illegally secure U-visas, which are intended only for genuine crime victims. Patel has also been ordered to surrender nearly $850,000, will spend two years under supervised release after prison, and is likely to be deported.
Federal prosecutors revealed that Patel operated a shadow business offering “robbery packages” to immigrants who paid thousands of dollars to pretend they were victims of violent crime. The setup often involved hiring accomplices who acted as armed robbers—sometimes pointing guns—while cameras captured the scenes and participants pretended to be terrified. Patel even paid some shop owners to use their businesses as the backdrop for these staged incidents.
In one example, a participant handed over $20,000 to Patel’s network to take part in a fake robbery. At least two people went on to successfully apply for U-visas using falsified police reports stemming from these events.
The U-visa program, launched by Congress in 2000, was meant to grant temporary legal protection to crime victims who cooperate with authorities. Prosecutors argued that Patel’s operation corrupted the system by filling it with fraudulent cases.
Balwinder Singh, Patel’s associate who helped stage the fake crimes, also admitted guilt earlier this year. His sentencing is set for September 24.
Officials said the racket stretched beyond Massachusetts and New York, with incidents staged in multiple states. The case was cracked through a joint investigation by the FBI, USCIS, and several local police departments.
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs, while delivering Patel’s sentence in Massachusetts federal court, noted that his actions took advantage of vulnerable immigrants and undermined the credibility of U.S. immigration law.
