11 Indians Charged in US for Staging Robberies to Secure U Visas

• Eleven Indian nationals indicted in the US for a fraudulent conspiracy involving staged armed robberies.
• The scheme aimed to help individuals falsely claim victim status to secure U visas, reserved for crime victims assisting law enforcement.
• Rambhai Patel and associates allegedly coordinated fake heists at convenience stores, liquor outlets, and fast-food establishments across Massachusetts since March 2023.
• Participants, including 'victims' and business owners, allegedly paid an organizer to facilitate the staged incidents.
• Six defendants were apprehended in Massachusetts, others in Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio, facing charges of conspiracy to commit visa fraud with penalties up to 5 years in prison and a USD 250,000 fine.