6 Accused in Immigration Visa Fraud Scheme Involving Staged Armed Robberies Around Chicagoland

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.

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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.

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