A pair of New York men have been accused of staging multiple fake armed robberies to enable the purported victims to apply for special visas reserved for victims of violent crimes.
In December, federal authorities arrested 36-year-old Rambhai Patel and 39-year-old Balwinder Singh on one count each of conspiracy to commit fraud. Mr. Patel was arrested in Seattle, Washington, and Mr. Singh was arrested in Queens, New York, and both are being prosecuted in Massachusetts where several of the alleged faked robberies occurred.
According to prosecutors, Mr. Patel, Mr. Singh, and other unidentified co-conspirators carried out staged armed robberies of at least eight convenience stores and fast-food restaurants across the United States beginning in March 2023. Prosecutors allege these faked robberies were all done so the purported “victims” could qualify for a U visa, which is a special non-immigration status visa for the victim of a violent crime.
U visa recipients are given temporary immigration status that includes work authorization within the United States that can extend to their family members. A U visa also opens the possibility for lawful permanent resident status within the United States.
Prosecutors, citing a cooperating witness (CW-1) who took part in the staged robberies, allege Mr. Patel knew and coordinated with the various store operators and the non-citizens who wished to be seen as crime victims in order to obtain the U visas. These apparent fake crime victims would pay Mr. Patel up to $10,000 and would even come to the staged robberies from other states. After the staged robberies, the fake victims would call the police several minutes after the staged robbery had occurred, giving CW-1 time to leave the scene.
CW-1 told prosecutors that Mr. Patel would pay him about $1,500 for each staged robbery and would cut the store owners in for between $1,500 and $2,000 as well. CW-1 said he and Mr. Patel were in communication in the lead-up to each robbery and that Mr. Patel would communicate with the various store owners who would let him know the opportune moment to stage the robbery when the store was empty save for the intended fake victims.
CW-1 told prosecutors that Mr. Singh frequently worked as his driver, taking him to the various locations for the staged robberies. CW-1 told prosecutors that Mr. Singh was paid $500 per robbery and had relatively minimal knowledge but did know that CW-1 possessed a gun, suggesting Mr. Singh knew their activities involved a firearm. CW-1 said the gun was also fake.
This scheme of faked robberies included four staged events at stores in Massachusetts, two in Pennsylvania, one in Kentucky, and one in Tennessee. In seven of those eight staged robberies, law firms representing purported victims submitted U visa application paperwork.
In six of the robbery cases, a cell phone allegedly belonging to Mr. Patel connected with a cell tower in or near the town where the robbery occurred. The phone was also in contact with the store owners of two of the robbery locations in the months following their respective robbery incidents. When filling out a police report, one of the purported Philadelphia victims provided an address that matches Mr. Patel’s residence in Farmingdale, New York.
CW-1 agreed to cooperate with federal authorities after he and Mr. Singh were arrested shortly after an Oct. 28 robbery by the Worcester Police Department in Massachusetts. Following their arrest, CW-1 described the fake robbery scheme to authorities.
CW-1 was eventually able to bring an undercover FBI employee in on a Nov. 15 phone call with Mr. Patel, with CW-1 asking that the undercover FBI employee be allowed to take part in their next staged robbery. During their phone call, Mr. Patel allegedly explained the scheme, stating he would provide the instructions for when CW-1 and the undercover FBI employee should go into the store, and told the FBI employee to “just show the gun” once inside.
Conspiracy to commit visa fraud carries a possible sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.
Mr. Patel is due to appear in federal court in Massachusetts on Tuesday, Jan. 9 for his initial appearance.
“While we are aware of the nature of the criminal complaint recently filed against him, to which he will plead not guilty, we have yet to receive any meaningful discovery from the government in this case,” Brad Bailey, an attorney representing Mr. Patel said in an emailed statement to NTD News. “Nonetheless, attorney Barry Zone and I anticipate pursuing a vigorous defense on our client’s behalf.”
NTD News also reached out to an attorney representing Mr. Singh but did not receive a response by press time.
