Indian-origin man in US admits to visa scam via fake robberies
GANDHINAGAR: At a time when the United States is tightening the visa regime and imposing visa restrictions on owners, executives, and senior officials of travel agencies based or operating in India for facilitating illegal immigration to the United States, Ram Patel (37) of Indian origin has recently pleaded guilty in a federal court in Boston to staging armed robberies as part of a visa fraud conspiracy.Patel and his co-accused Balwant Singh face a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 and deportation upon completion of sentence. According to a statement issued by the District Attorney's (DA) office in Massachusetts beginning March 2023, Patel and his alleged co-conspirator Balwinder Singh (39) set up and carried out staged armed robberies of at least nine convenience/liquor stores and fast-food restaurants across the US, including at least five in Massachusetts.The purpose of the staged robberies was to allow the clerks to claim that they were victims of a violent crime on an application for U non-immigrant status (U Visa), the statement said.
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