11 Indian Nationals Charged in Staged Robbery Visa Fraud

Federal prosecutors in the United States have charged 11 Indian nationals with conspiracy to commit visa fraud in a scheme that involved staging armed robberies at convenience stores and fast-food restaurants to help participants falsely claim victim status for immigration benefits.

The defendants, all of whom were living unlawfully in the country, allegedly participated in or facilitated the fake robberies starting in March 2023. According to charging documents, the operation targeted at least six locations in Massachusetts, including convenience stores, liquor stores, and restaurants, with additional incidents reported elsewhere. The goal was to enable store clerks or owners to apply for U nonimmigrant visas by portraying themselves as victims of violent crimes who had cooperated with law enforcement.

U visas provide work authorization and a potential path to permanent residency for eligible crime victims who suffer substantial mental or physical abuse and assist authorities in investigations or prosecutions. In this case, authorities said the staged incidents followed a consistent pattern: An individual posing as a robber would enter a business, threaten employees or owners...