Latest news with #FairfieldCountySheriff'sOffice
India Today
21-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
In big US visa scam, Indian admits to staging robberies across US
As the Trump administration acts to plug the holes that allowed illegal immigrants to stay back in the US, more cases of armed robberies staged to obtain U-visas are coming forward. A New York-based Indian national, Rambhal Patel, has pleaded guilty to staging armed robberies at retail stores across the US to help illegal immigrants exploit the U-visa programme, which offers deportation relief to victims of certain crimes. Since March 2023, Patel and his accomplices staged at least nine robberies across American 37, entered a guilty plea on Tuesday before US District Judge Myong J Joun in Boston to one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud. His sentencing has been scheduled for August 20. In December 2023, Patel was charged along with a fake robbery was caught on surveillance cameras. The footage showed a burglar waving a weapon, taking cash, and escaping the scene. The "victims" paid Patel to participate in the scheme. One purported victim paid $20,000 (approximately Rs 17.43 lakh) to Patel for staging one of the armed robberies, according to the PAID FOR ALLOWING STORES FOR STAGED ROBBERIES Even the store owners were complicit in these staged exchange for using their stores, Patel paid the owners for access to the in March 2023, Patel and his alleged co-conspirator set up and carried out at least nine staged robberies at convenience stores and restaurants, with five of them in Massachusetts, according to a statement issued by the US Attorney's Office, District of purpose of the staged robberies was to allow the store clerks, who were living in the US illegally, to claim that they were victims of a violent crime on an application for U non-immigrant status (U-Visa).A U-Visa is available to victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and who have been helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of criminal U-Visa was introduced in 2000 to encourage undocumented immigrants to report EXPECTED TO PLEAD GUILTY ON MAY 22At least two co-conspirators submitted U-Visa applications based on staged armed Patel was charged in December 2023, his co-conspirator, identified as Singh, is expected to plead guilty on May 22, the statement charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250, a separate case, Fairfield County Police in Connecticut last week charged two Indian nationals for staging a fake robbery in police questioned the shop owner, Birenkumar Patel, in connection with the robbery, he admitted the incident was orchestrated to allow the clerk of his shop, Laxitkumar Patel, to remain in the US by exploiting the U-Visa program, according to the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office statement. It was the clerk who called the police to file a false robbery complaint.
India Today
21-05-2025
- India Today
A fake robbery in US, American visa and an illegal Indian immigrant
A probe by the Fairfield County Police in Connecticut revealed that an armed robbery had, in fact, been staged by a shop owner to help his clerk, an illegal immigrant from India, stay back in the US. The shop owner, Birenkumar Patel, planned to exploit the U-Visa programme, which offers deportation relief to victims of certain March 9, the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office responded to a reported robbery at Monticello EZ Mart at 3888 State days later, after questioning, the shop owner, Birenkumar Patel, admitted the incident was orchestrated to allow the clerk, Laxitkumar Patel, to remain in the US by exploiting the U-Visa program, according to the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office statement. It was the clerk, Laxitkumar Patel, who called the police to file a false robbery complaint, thus getting formally involved in a criminal reported that $379 (approximately Rs 31,553) was stolen by a masked suspect who brandished an object presented as a firearm, local TV news channel, WACH FOX 57, WAS STAGED: POLICE INVESTIGATIONA thorough investigation by the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office concluded that the robbery had been U-Visa is a special non-immigrant visa in the US designed for victims of certain serious crimes who have endured significant mental or physical abuse and are willing to cooperate with law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of those U-Visa was introduced in 2000 to encourage undocumented immigrants to report to officials, the clerk, Laxitkumar Patel, entered the US illegally last year in September and faced an immigration hearing in March has been charged with criminal conspiracy, while Laxitkumar Patel faces charges of filing a false police report and criminal conspiracy. He is also under a federal hold due to his undocumented immigration status, Fox 57 County has since referred the case to the Department of Homeland County Sheriff Will Montgomery criticised the individuals involved, stating that this case—like other false reports—diverts vital law enforcement resources that could otherwise be used to assist genuine InMust Watch
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Yahoo
Elementary school teacher arrested in undercover Ohio prostitution sting
An Ohio elementary school teacher was among 12 people arrested in a recent prostitution sting. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The Fairfield County Sheriff's Office conducted an undercover operation targeting people soliciting prostitution on March 7, according to our news partners at WBNS in Columbus. TRENDING STORIES: Medic attacked in back of ambulance by patient Invasive pest detected in Ohio; Quarantine starts today for several counties State troopers ID 23-year-old woman killed in rollover crash in Shelby County The operation focused on people responding to online advertisements. As part of the sting, undercover deputies posed as people offering prostitution services, WBNS reported. Several suspects contacted them and arranged meetings at a designated location. Suspects were taken into custody after they showed up and confirmed their intent. They were charged with engagement in sexual activity for hire. Columbus City Schools confirmed to WBNS that one of the suspects, only identified as a 41-year-old man, was a fifth-grade teacher at Livingston Elementary School. A district spokesperson said the district was aware of what happened and removed the man from the classroom pending the outcome of the investigation. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Yahoo
Car crash, denials lead to Fairfield County drug bust
LANCASTER, Ohio (WCMH) – A Fairfield County single-vehicle crash resulted in an arrest and the seizure of a 'large quantity' of illegal narcotics. According to a Fairfield County Sheriff's Office affidavit, deputies responded to a reported crash at the intersection of Amanda-Northern and Alspach roads in Bloom Township. On the way there, police dispatch informed deputies that several witnesses said the driver was leaving the area by walking south on Amanda-Northern Road. Upon arrival, a woman was seen south of the crash site and was stopped by deputies. Ohio medical board suspends neurosurgeon's license after patient deaths Court documents state that the woman, 26-year-old Kylee Saunders, initially denied leaving the crash site but replied 'maybe' after the deputy told her several witnesses spotted her walking away. Saunders then denied being the driver when it was discovered she did not have a valid license. A male occupant of the car, who remained at the scene, told deputies that he swerved off the road and hit a fence to avoid an oncoming car, and he said no one else was in the car with him. The man said he knew Saunders, but Saunders said she did not know the man. When Saunders, of Lancaster, reportedly told deputies she was on her way to visit a person that deputies believed to be a drug user who sold narcotics and also based on mixed statements from Saunders and the man, a K9 was deployed. The sheriff's office said the K9 unit's probable cause, free air sniff inspection of the crashed car resulted in a positive indication of possible drugs. While arresting Saunders, deputies found suspected Xanex bars tucked in her sleeve and another bag of suspected meth in her purse. Saunders then admitted to having additional bags of drugs in her pants. Inside the Whitehall police division that current and former officers have called toxic Deputies seized an approximate total of 224 grams of suspected methamphetamine, and Saunders was charged with aggravated possession of drugs. It is her second time facing charges, the first coming in 2019 when she pleaded guilty to possession of drugs, including heroin, paraphernalia and failure to comply with a police officer. She was sentenced to three years of probation with a reserve sentence of four years and three months should a violation occur. On Wednesday, Saunders was issued a $1 million bond in Fairfield County Court of Common Pleas. She is due back in court Thursday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
