11 Indian nationals charged in U.S. over visa fraud scheme

Eleven Indian nationals face charges in the U.S. for a visa fraud scheme involving staged armed robberies.

Eleven Indian nationals, living illegally in the U.S., have been charged with visa fraud for conspiring to carry out staged armed robberies of convenience shops, according to U.S. federal prosecutors.

Authorities said the suspects are accused of organising fake robberies for the purpose of allowing the store clerks to falsely claim they were crime victims on immigration applications towards getting a Green Card.

Jitendrakumar Patel, 39, Maheshkumar Patel, 36, Sanjaykumar Patel, 45, Dipikaben Patel, 40, Rameshbhai Patel, 52, Amitabahen Patel, 43, Ronakkumar Patel, 28, Sangitaben Patel, 36, Minkesh Patel, 42, Sonal Patel, 42 and Mitul Patel, 40 have been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud.

They all were living unlawfully in various U.S. states such as Massachusetts, Kentucky and Ohio.

Dipikaben was deported to India after unlawfully residing in Weymouth, Massachusetts, the Justice Department said in a statement.

Jitendrakumar, Maheshkumar, Sanjaykumar, Amitabahen, Sangitaben and Mitul were arrested in Massachusetts and released following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston on Friday (March 13, 2026).