In a major case exposing abuse of the U.S. U-Visa immigration program, a New York-based Indian national, Rambhal Patel, has admitted to organizing a series of fake armed robberies at stores across the United States to help undocumented immigrants secure legal status.
Patel, 37, pleaded guilty on Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Myong J. Joun in Boston to conspiracy to commit visa fraud. His sentencing is scheduled for August 20, and he faces up to five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and three years of supervised release.
🔍 The U-Visa Scheme Uncovered
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, Patel began staging the robberies in March 2023. With at least nine incidents carried out across various states—including five in Massachusetts—the scheme involved fake burglars, paid victims, and complicit store owners.
In each case, Patel and his accomplices simulated armed robberies, often caught on surveillance footage showing weapons and stolen cash, to create the illusion of violent crimes. These staged events were designed to support U-Visa applications, which grant temporary legal status to non-citizens who are victims of qualifying crimes and cooperate with law enforcement.
💵 Victims and Store Owners Paid to Participate
The fraud was financially driven. Victims—many of them undocumented immigrants—paid Patel up to $20,000 to be included in the staged incidents and use them to file for U-Visas. Even store owners received payment for allowing their premises to be used in the criminal setup.
Authorities reported that at least two U-Visa applications were filed using these fake incidents.
👥 Co-Conspirators and Related Cases
Patel wasn’t acting alone. One of his alleged co-conspirators, identified as Singh, is scheduled to plead guilty on May 22, according to prosecutors.
In a separate but similar incident, authorities in Connecticut charged two Indian nationals, Birenkumar Patel and Laxitkumar Patel, for faking a robbery at their store in March 2025. The staged crime was allegedly designed to help Laxitkumar, the store clerk, apply for a U-Visa. He even called the police himself to report the fake crime.
📌 Background on the U-Visa Program
The U-Visa was created in 2000 to encourage undocumented immigrants to report crimes and assist law enforcement, offering temporary relief from deportation and a path to legal residency.
However, cases like these are now raising alarms about widespread misuse of the program. With immigration enforcement tightening under the Trump administration, federal authorities are aggressively investigating fraudulent visa schemes.
This case highlights a troubling trend of organized fraud networks exploiting well-intentioned immigration programs and underscores the increasing scrutiny faced by undocumented immigrants seeking relief through illegal means.
