Release Date
04/10/2026
Defendants allegedly participated in staged armed robberies so that “victims” could apply for immigration benefits
BOSTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provided pivotal assistance to a visa fraud investigation that resulted in federal grand jury indictments of 10 Indian nationals. The defendants have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston in connection with a conspiracy to carry out staged armed robberies of convenience stores so store clerks could falsely claim they were crime victims on immigration applications. They were previously charged by criminal complaint in March 2026. The U.S. attorney’s office made the announcement.
The following defendants have been indicted by a federal grand jury with one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud:
Jitendrakumar Patel, 39, unlawfully residing in Marshfield, Massachusetts;
Maheshkumar Patel, 36, unlawfully residing in Randolph, Massachusetts;
Sanjaykumar Patel, 45, unlawfully residing in Quincy, Massachusetts;
Dipikaben Patel, 40, deported to India after unlawfully residing in Weymouth, Massachusetts;
Rameshbhai Patel, 52, unlawfully residing in Eubank, Kentucky;
Amitabahen Patel, 43, unlawfully residing in Plainville, Massachusetts;
Ronakkumar Patel, 28, unlawfully residing in Maryland Heights, Mississippi;
Sangitaben Patel, 36, unlawfully residing in Randolph, Massachusetts;
Minkesh Patel, 42, unlawfully residing in Perrysburg, Ohio; and
Sonal Patel, 42, unlawfully residing in Perrysburg, Ohio.
All 10 defendants were previously charged by criminal complaint and released on conditions. Rameshbhai Patel and Ronakkumar Patel have been taken into immigration custody. The defendants are subject to deportation after they complete any sentence imposed. This case stems from an investigation into Rambhai Patel, the organizer of the scheme, and getaway driver Balwinder Singh – both of whom were charged in December 2023 and later convicted in May 2025.
According to the charging documents, in March 2023, Rambhai Patel and his co-conspirators set up and carried out staged armed robberies of at least six convenience/liquor stores or fast food restaurants in Massachusetts and elsewhere. It is alleged that the purpose of the staged robberies was to allow the clerks who were present to falsely claim that they were victims of a violent crime on an application for a U non-immigrant visa. A U visa is available to victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and help law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity.
In the course of the alleged staged robberies, the “robber” would allegedly threaten store clerks or owners with an apparent firearm before taking cash from the register and fleeing, while the interaction was captured on store surveillance video. The clerks or owners would then wait five or more minutes until the alleged “robber” escaped before calling police to report the “crime.” The “victims” are alleged to have each paid Rambhai Patel to participate in the scheme. In turn, Rambhai Patel paid the store owners to use their stores for the staged robberies.
The organizer Rambhai Patel, the “robber,” and the getaway driver, Balwinder Singh, were convicted in May 2025. The 10 defendants listed above are alleged to have either arranged with Rambhai Patel to set up each robbery, or paid for themselves or a family member to participate as a “victim.”
The charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Additionally, the defendants are subject to deportation after any sentence imposed.
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, special agent in charge of the FBI, Boston Division, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elianna J. Nuzum and Jessica L. Soto of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. Multiple agencies provides valuable assistance in the investigation:
The U.S. attorney’s offices for the Eastern District of New York, the Western District of Washington, the Northern District of Ohio, the Eastern District of Missouri, and the Eastern District of Kentucky;
The FBI’s New York, Seattle, Louisville, Cleveland and St. Louis field offices;
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations;
Massachusetts State Police;
Worcester County (Massachusetts) District Attorney’s Office;
Police departments for Boston, Dedham, Hingham, Malden, Marshfield, Randolph, Somerville, Weymouth, and Worcester in Massachusetts, Upper Darby and West Pittston in Pennsylvania, Louisville in Kentucky, and Bean Station in Tennessee.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
