11 Indian Nationals Charged With Visa Fraud Staged MA Store Robberies: Officials

BOSTON, MA — Eleven Indian nationals were charged with conspiring to stage convenience store robberies in order to claim they were crime victims on immigration applications.

Eleven Indian nationals have been charged in connection with a conspiracy to carry out staged armed robberies of convenience stores for the purpose of allowing store clerks to falsely claim they were crime victims on immigration applications.

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According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the following have been charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud:

• Jitendrakumar Patel, 39, of Marshfield
• Maheshkumar Patel, 36, of Randolph
• Sanjaykumar Patel, 45, of Quincy
• Dipikaben Patel, 40, of Weymouth but deported to India
• Rameshbhai Patel, 52, of Eubank, Kentucky
• Amitabahen Patel, 43, of Plainville
• Ronakkumar Patel, 28, of Maryland Heights, Mississippi
• Sangitaben Patel, 36, of Randolph
• Minkesh Patel, 42, of Perrysburg, Ohio
• Sonal Patel, 42, of Perrysburg, Ohio
• Mitul Patel, 40, of Worcester

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"Jitendrakumar Patel, Maheshkumar Patel, Sanjaykumar Patel, Amitabahen Patel, Sangitaben Patel and Mitul Patel were arrested in Massachusetts and released following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston earlier today, according to a media release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. "Rameshbhai Patel, Ronakkumar Patel, Sonal Patel and Minkesh Patel were arrested and made their initial appearances in Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio. They will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date."

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Starting in March 2023, the 11 set up and carried out staged armed robberies of at least six convenience/liquor stores and fast food restaurants in Massachusetts and elsewhere, according to the release.

"It is alleged that the purpose of the staged robberies was to allow the clerks present to claim falsely that they were victims of a violent crime on an application for U non-immigration status," the release said (U Visa).

Such visas are 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, according to the release.

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"In the course of the alleged 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 release 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,'" according to the release. "The 'victims' are alleged to have each paid (one of the co-conspirators) to participate in the scheme. In turn, (he) allegedly paid the store owners for the use of their stores for the staged robbery."

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