Ahmedabad: Eleven Indian nationals, all from Gujarat, have been charged in the United States for allegedly staging armed robberies at convenience stores in order to falsely claim victim status and obtain immigration benefits under the U visa programme, federal authorities announced on Friday.According to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, the accused allegedly conspired to carry out fake robberies at several stores in Massachusetts so that clerks could claim they were victims of violent crime and apply for a U visa — a special immigration benefit granted to victims who assist law enforcement in investigations.The accused were identified as Jitendrakumar Patel (39), Maheshkumar Patel (36), Sanjaykumar Patel (45), Dipikaben Patel (40), Rameshbhai Patel (52), Amitabahen Patel (43), Ronakkumar Patel (28), Sangitaben Patel (36), Minkesh Patel (42), Sonal Patel (42) and Mitul Patel (40). Investigators said several of them were residing unlawfully in different parts of the United States.Six of the accused were arrested in Massachusetts and produced before a federal court in Boston on Friday, while others were arrested in Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio. Authorities said they will be presented before the Boston court at a later date.The investigation found that the accused allegedly paid an organiser to stage robberies at convenience stores, liquor shops and fast-food outlets. During these incidents, a person posing as a robber would threaten store clerks with what appeared to be a firearm and flee with cash, while the entire sequence was recorded on store surveillance cameras.Investigators said the clerks would deliberately wait several minutes before informing the police so that the staged crime appeared genuine. The alleged “victims” reportedly paid the organiser to take part in the scheme, while store owners were also compensated for allowing their premises to be used.The organiser, the man who played the robber and the getaway driver were previously arrested and convicted in the case.Federal prosecutors said the conspiracy allowed participants to falsely claim that they had suffered mental or physical abuse in a violent crime and seek legal immigration status in the United States.If convicted, the accused could face up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation along with immigration authorities.
