Two men from Gandhinagar have been accused of staging a robbery in Georgia, shedding light on the rising trend of orchestrating fake attacks to qualify for an American U visa.
A statement from the Burke County Sheriff’s office released on March 1 stated that what was initially reported as a robbery at the Vidette Store, involving employee Paresh Chaudhari and his friend Sunil Chaudhari, both residents of Gandhinagar, has now been exposed as a fabricated affair.
Initially reported on Feb 24, the alleged robbery was determined to be staged after scrutiny of the store’s surveillance footage and further investigation. “The two claimed that an unknown male entered the store at 11.46am, brandished a firearm, and robbed them before fleeing on foot in an undisclosed direction,” said the statement.
However, upon closer inspection of the store’s surveillance footage and subsequent investigation, investigators have determined that no robbery took place, according to a statement issued by Colonel Jimmy Wylds for the Burke County Sheriff’s office.
“Investigators uncovered evidence suggesting that Paresh Chaudhari and Sunil Chaudhari staged the entire event. Attempts to reinterview them have proven unsuccessful, as the two have reportedly left the state, and their current whereabouts are unknown,” it said.
“In response to these developments, our investigators have contacted immigration and customs officials to facilitate the issuance of warrants for the accused. Upon their apprehension, both individuals are expected to face multiple charges related to the falsified incident,” the statement added.
The motive behind the staged robbery remains unclear. Still, investigators believe “it is part of a growing trend among some non-immigrants to gain U-status visas that allow them to remain in the country for up to four additional years as victims of crimes”.
Sources in the human smuggling network claim that if a foreign national — called an alien in the US — has been attacked or abused on American land, they get a U visa smoothly.
However, Paresh Chaudhari denied involvement in the staged robbery, alleging coercion by his employer to misreport the incident. “My employer, Imran Momin, told me to report the robbery. I have video evidence of the robbery in which $2,250 was stolen. However, my owner told me to tell the police that $6,000 was stolen so that he could claim the amount in insurance. When I refused, he told me to leave. He told me that he would handle the cops. Later, I learned that Sunil, who did not even work at the store, and I were charged for faking the robbery,” said Paresh.
Paresh claimed that a US court had cleared him and Sunil of all charges but did not divulge any details nor produce a copy of the order.
“I will file a lawsuit against the police for defaming me and Sunil,” he claimed.
Paresh also claimed that he has been living in the US for seven years and got a U visa in 2020. “I do not need to stage a robbery as I have all the documents I need to stay in the US,” he added.
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