A US federal grand jury in Boston has indicted ten Indian nationals, accused of faking armed robberies at convenience stores to fraudulently obtain US visas.
The ten were first charged by criminal complaint in March 2026. They have since been released on bail conditions. The grand jury has now formally indicted them on one count of conspiracy to commit fraud.
The scheme was allegedly organised by someone named Rambhai Patel. According to reports, he and getaway driver Balwinder Singh were first charged in December 2023 and later convicted in May 2025. Patel carried out at least six staged armed robberies at convenience stores, liquor outlets, and fast-food restaurants in Massachusetts and other states.
The staged robberies reportedly began in March 2023. The goal was simple. Store clerks or owners would pose as crime victims and use that status to apply for a U Visa, a US immigration benefit for victims of violent crime who cooperate with law enforcement.
Here is how the scheme worked. Patel would threaten a store clerk with what appeared to be a firearm. He would then take cash from the register and flee. The incident would be recorded on the store’s surveillance camera.
The “victims” allegedly paid Patel to stage the robbery. Patel, in turn, paid store owners for use of their premises.
The 10 indicted defendants allegedly either arranged the staged robbery with Patel directly, or paid for themselves or a family member to participate as a false victim.
US Attorney Leah B Foley and FBI Boston official Ted E Docks announced the case. Multiple federal agencies and local police departments supported the investigation.
A conviction on conspiracy to commit visa fraud carries up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 (approximately Rs 2 crore). The defendants may also face deportation after serving their sentences.
Offenders list published by the Department of Justice
- Jitendrakumar Patel, 39, unlawfully residing in Marshfield, Mass.;
- Maheshkumar Patel, 36, unlawfully residing in Randolph, Mass.;
- Sanjaykumar Patel, 45, unlawfully residing in Quincy, Mass.;
- Dipikaben Patel, 40, deported to India after unlawfully residing in Weymouth, Mass.;
- Rameshbhai Patel, 52, unlawfully residing in Eubank, Ky.;
- Amitabahen Patel, 43, unlawfully residing in Plainville, Mass.;
- Ronakkumar Patel, 28, unlawfully residing in Maryland Heights, Miss.;
- Sangitaben Patel, 36, unlawfully residing in Randolph, Mass.;
- Minkesh Patel, 42, unlawfully residing in Perrysburg, Ohio; and
- Sonal Patel, 42, unlawfully residing in Perrysburg, Ohio.
A broader pattern
The Boston indictment is not an isolated case. It fits into a broader pattern of Indian nationals (many of them undocumented) being linked to organised crime in the US.
Recently, the Vibes of India reported that American authorities released a country-wise database of what they called the “worst of the worst” criminal aliens.
It listed 89 Indian nationals arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Twenty-one of them were Gujaratis, nearly 25 per cent of the total.
Most of the 21 Gujaratis named are from districts in north and central Gujarat. Fifteen were involved in money laundering, fraud, identity theft and other financial crimes. Many of these offences allegedly targeted elderly US citizens. Two individuals faced convictions for sexual offences involving minors. Others were booked for drug trafficking, domestic violence, robbery and dealing in stolen property.
Much like the Boston visa scheme — where store clerks paid to pose as robbery victims — the pattern points to something deeper. Undocumented migrants can become vulnerable to organised criminal networks. The desperation to secure legal status makes them easy targets for exploitation.
Elderly citizens are frequent targets in fraud cases. These include phone scams, false statements, identity theft and mail fraud. The involved planning, coordination and repeat targeting.
Illegal migration is not driven by economic distress alone. It can lead individuals into organised crime, whether as orchestrators, willing participants, or those manipulated into breaking the law.
Also Read: US Cracks Down On Illegal Migration And Fraud Involving Gujarati Nationals https://www.vibesofindia.com/us-cracks-down-on-illegal-migration-and-fraud-involving-gujarati-nationals/
