40-year-old Mitul Patel pleaded guilty in Boston, Massachusetts, to visa fraud, where an organized gang staged a robbery so that the 'victims' could apply for a U visa. Mitul Patel was one of the so-called victims. The sentencing in this case is scheduled for July 29. Ten others were previously charged by criminal complaint in March 2026.
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The gang was led by one Rambhai Patel who was convicted in May 2025. Mitul Patel paid Rambhai Patel so that he could participate as a “victim” in a staged armed robbery of a store in Worcester in October 2023.
According to court documents, 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 -- beginning in March 2024. The store owners and the "victims" were aware of the plot.
Fake robbery: How these events unfolded
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, and everything must happen in the clear view of a surveillance camera. Otherwise, there is no use as the footage would serve as the evidence.
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 10 others who took the help of Rambhai Patel to get U visa have all been living in the US illegally.
List of the other Patels
Jitendrakumar Patel, 39
Maheshkumar Patel, 36
Sanjaykumar Patel
Dipikaben Patel, 40, deported to India
Rameshbhai Patel, 52
Amitabahen Patel, 43
Ronakkumar Patel, 28
Sangitaben Patel, 36
Minkesh Patel, 42
Sonal Patel, 42
What is U visa?
A non-immigrant visa status, 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.
