Boston: A US District Court in Boston sentenced 40-year-old Indian national Mitul Patel to one day in prison, a 1,000 USD fine, and ordered his deportation from the United States after he pleaded guilty to visa fraud and conspiracy charges. Patel, a resident of Worcester, Massachusetts, admitted to participating in an organized scheme to stage fake armed robberies at convenience stores and fast-food outlets, aimed at illegally securing non-immigrant visas for non-citizens.
According to court filings and charging documents, the fraudulent scheme began in March 2023 under the direction of co-conspirator Rambhai Patel. The operation staged fake armed robberies across at least six convenience stores, liquor shops, and fast-food restaurants in Massachusetts and surrounding areas. The primary objective was to enable store clerks to fraudulently apply for U non-immigrant status, commonly known as a U Visa, which is reserved for victims of violent crimes who assist law enforcement in criminal investigations.
Investigations revealed that Mitul Patel paid Rambhai Patel to act as a false victim during a staged robbery at a Worcester store in October 2023. During these coordinated events, a hired actor posing as a robber threatened store personnel with an apparent firearm and took cash while being recorded on surveillance cameras. To make the scene appear genuine, participants waited several minutes after the getaway driver and armed actor departed before notifying local police.
The participants paid fees to Rambhai Patel to join the scheme, who in turn compensated store owners for allowing their premises to be used during the staged events. Rambhai Patel, along with the designated robber and getaway driver Balwinder Singh, were previously charged and convicted in May 2025. Mitul Patel and 10 other co-defendants entered guilty pleas in June 2026, culminating in Patel’s formal sentencing and removal order.
