New York City Men Arrested for Staging Robberies in Visa Fraud Scheme

Two New York City residents, Rambhai Patel, 36, and Balwinder Singh, 39, have been apprehended for their alleged involvement in a visa fraud conspiracy in Massachusetts. The duo is accused of orchestrating fake armed robberies at convenience stores and fast food establishments, all part of an elaborate scheme to aid the "victims" of these sham robberies in applying for special immigration visas.

Patel and Singh, currently charged with conspiring to commit visa fraud, allegedly executed a sequence of these staged robberies. In these elaborate ruses, an individual posing as a robber would simulate stealing cash from the register while pretending to brandish a firearm, all while under the watchful gaze of surveillance cameras. Strikingly, the store clerks involved would only report the crimes to the police several minutes after the supposed culprits had fled the scene.

In exchange for their participation, the so-called "victims" paid Patel, who, in turn, compensated the store owners for the use of their establishments in these staged events. This elaborate ploy aimed to help the store clerks apply for special "U visas," granting them a four-year stay in the United States. During this period, they would assist in the prosecution of alleged criminals.

Singh and Patel, both facing potential federal charges, may each be sentenced to up to five years in prison and fined up to $250,000 if convicted. Singh was arrested in Queens, while Patel was apprehended in Seattle, awaiting legal proceedings in Boston federal court, as per New York Post reports.