6 accused in immigration visa fraud scheme involving staged armed robberies around Chicagoland

CHICAGO — Charges have been filed against a handful of people accused of staging robberies around Chicagoland in order to apply for immigration visas that are reserved for some crime victims.

According to an indictment unsealed in federal court in Chicago, 26-year-old Parth Nayi, 31-year-old Kewon Young, 51-year-old Bhikhabhai Patel, 32-year-old Nilesh Patel, 23-year-old Ravinaben Patel, and 32-year-old Rajnikumar Patel have each been charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud in connection with the alleged scheme.

Ravinaben Patel is also facing an additional charge of making a false statement in a visa application.

Prosecutors say the charges stem from an alleged scheme that involved staging fake robberies at restaurants, coffee shops, liquor stores, and gas stations in Chicago and the suburbs so that the victims of the fake holdups could submit applications for U nonimmigrant status, which is set aside for some crime victims who have suffered mental or physical abuse and are helpful to authorities in an investigation or during prosecution.

Prosecutors say the scheme was allegedly organized by Nayi and Young and participants paid Nayi thousands of dollars to take part.

According to the indictment, during the fake holdups, people acting as robbers approached the purported victims, while brandishing what appeared to be firearms, and demanded money and property.

Prosecutors said afterward, some of those who participated allegedly submitted forms to authorities to “obtain certification that they were victims of a qualifying crime and had been or would be helpful in the investigation.”

After receiving the certification from authorities, some then fraudulently submitted U-visa applications to Immigration Services.

If convicted, those charged with conspiracy could face up to five years in federal prison. Patel, who is also facing a false statement charge, could see an additional 10 years in prison.

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