2 NRIs Rambhai Patel & Balwinder Singh Accused in Elaborate
Conspiracy Using 'Staged Robberies' in the US

Los Angeles/ Feb 12, 2024
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh

In a bizarre twist to visa fraud, Rambhai Patel and Balwinder Singh stand accused of orchestrating armed robberies, allegedly designed to create 'victims' seeking immigration benefits in exchange for hefty sums of money. The elaborate scheme sheds light on a troubling intersection of criminal tactics and immigration loopholes.

Patel and Singh Allegedly Orchestrated Staged Armed Robberies in Nationwide Scheme
2 NRIs, previously arrested and charged in December 2023 for their involvement in staged armed robberies as part of a visa fraud conspiracy, now face federal indictment in Boston, Massachusetts. Rambhai Patel, 36, and Balwinder Singh, 39, have been indicted on a single count each of conspiracy to commit visa fraud. Patel, arrested in Seattle on December 13, 2023, remains detained pending trial, while Singh, arrested in Queens, New York on the same day, was released on conditions following an initial court appearance on December 28, 2023.

According to charging documents, the conspiracy, spearheaded by Patel and his co-conspirators, including Singh at times, unfolded from March 2023 onwards. The group meticulously staged armed robberies, targeting at least nine convenience/liquor stores and fast-food restaurants across the United States, with a focus on five in Massachusetts. The alleged purpose of these orchestrated crimes was to enable store clerks to claim victimhood on applications for U nonimmigration status (U Visa). U Visas are designated for victims of certain crimes who have suffered physical or mental abuse and have assisted law enforcement in criminal investigations or prosecutions.

In the course of these staged robberies, the purported 'robber' would menacingly brandish an apparent firearm, demanding cash from the store's register before making a hasty escape – all captured on store surveillance video. Following a calculated delay of five minutes or more, the clerks and/or owners would then report the 'crime' to law enforcement. Shockingly, the 'victims' are alleged to have paid Patel for their participation in this elaborate scheme, with one individual reportedly shelling out $20,000 to play the role of a victim in one of the staged armed robberies. Meanwhile, Patel is said to have compensated store owners for allowing the use of their establishments for the fraudulent acts.
The charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison, accompanied by three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are determined by a federal district court judge, considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes governing criminal case sentencing.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, jointly made the announcement. The investigation received valuable assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of New York and the Western District of Washington, FBI’s New York and Seattle Field Offices, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Massachusetts State Police, Worcester County District Attorney’s Office, and various police departments including Hingham, Marshfield, Randolph, Weymouth, Worcester, Upper Darby (Pa.), West Pittston (Pa.), Louisville (Ky.), and Bean Station (Tenn.).

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elianna J. Nuzum and Jessica L. Soto from the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case. The details outlined in the charging documents should be regarded as allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.