Two individuals, Rambhai Patel and Balwinder Singh, both of Indian descent, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston, Massachusetts, for plotting visa fraud in the United States.
They allegedly staged armed robberies at convenience stores and restaurants across multiple states, intending to help clerks and owners file U Visa applications by falsely claiming they were victims of violent crimes.
Patel, arrested in Seattle, remains in custody, while Singh, apprehended in Queens, was released under specific conditions.
The staged robberies aimed to exploit the U Visa program, which offers relief to victims of certain crimes, by fabricating incidents and delaying reports to law enforcement.
The scheme allegedly involved payment from participants to Patel and compensation to store owners for their involvement.
The conspiracy charge carries penalties of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
