In recent months, several cases of immigrants, particularly from India, staging fake robberies to obtain US visas have come to light.
In the latest shocking incident, six men have been charged with organizing armed robberies at gas stations, fast food restaurants, and liquor stores across Chicago, Louisiana, and Tennessee.
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The scheme aimed to secure U-visas, which are designated for crime victims who have suffered abuse, and assist law enforcement.
A federal indictment in Chicago accuses these men of recruiting individuals to pose as robbers and then filing false police reports to qualify for U-visas.
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Those charged include Parth Nayi, Kewon Young, Bhikhabhai Patel, Nilesh Patel, Ravinaben Patel, and Rajnikumar Patel.
The charges include conspiracy to commit visa fraud, and Ravinaben Patel faces an additional charge for making a false statement in a visa application.
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Nayi and Young are identified as the orchestrators of the staged robberies, which took place between July 2022 and January 2024.
The staged robberies involved actors posing as robbers, brandishing fake firearms, and pretending to steal from the supposed victims, who would later file for U-visas.
The immigration attorney expressed concern over the misuse of U-visas, emphasizing that these visas are meant to help genuine victims of crime without fear of deportation.
The defendants face serious charges, with conspiracy carrying up to 5 years in prison and the false statement charge up to 10 years.
