Illegal Alien from India Pleads Guilty to Visa Fraud Conspiracy

BOSTON - An Indian national unlawfully residing in Worcester, Mass., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with a conspiracy to conduct staged armed robberies of convenience stores for the purpose of allowing store clerks to falsely claim they were crime victims on immigration applications.

Mitul Patel, 40, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun scheduled sentencing for July 29, 2026. The defendant, along with 10 others allegedly involved in the scheme, was previously charged by criminal complaint in March 2026.

According to the charging documents, beginning in March 2023, Rambhai Patel and his co-conspirators set up and carried out staged armed robberies of at least six convenience/liquor stores and fast-food restaurants in Massachusetts and elsewhere. It is alleged that the purpose of the staged robberies was to allow the clerks present to falsely claim that they were victims of a violent crime on an application for U non-immigration status (U Visa). A U Visa is available to victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and who have been helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity.

During the staged robberies, the "robber" would allegedly threaten store clerks and/or owners with an apparent firearm before taking cash from the register and fleeing, while the interaction was captured on store surveillance video. The clerks and/or owners would then allegedly wait five or more minutes until the "robber" had escaped before calling police to report the "crime." The "victims" are alleged to have each paid Rambhai Patel to participate in the scheme. In turn, Rambhai Patel allegedly paid the store owners for the use of their stores for the staged robbery.

The organizer Rambhai Patel, the "robber," and the getaway driver Balwinder Singh were previously charged and later convicted in May 2025. Mitul Patel, charged today, paid Rambhai Patel so that he could participate as a "victim" in a staged armed robbery of a store in Worcester, Mass. in October 2023.

The charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Additionally, the defendant is subject to deportation. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the U.S. Attorney's Offices for the Eastern District of New York, the Western District of Washington, the Northern District of Ohio, the Eastern District of Missouri and the Eastern District of Kentucky; FBI's New York, Seattle, Louisville, Cleveland and St. Louis Field Offices; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations; Massachusetts State Police; Worcester County District Attorney's Office; and the Boston, Dedham, Hingham, Malden, Marshfield, Randolph, Somerville, Weymouth, Worcester, Upper Darby, (Pa.), West Pittston (Pa.), Louisville, (Ky.) and Bean Station (Tenn.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elianna J. Nuzum of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.