Visa Chicago Fraud Robberies

When individuals seek to secure visas, they often encounter a complicated mix of administrative barriers and legal complexities. To many, a visa holds more significance than merely enabling entry into a new country. To them it symbolizes a pathway to opportunity, security, and an improved lifestyle. However, some stories reveal the extreme lengths to which people are willing to undertake in their pursuit of this highly desired document. A recent event of this exact nature took place here in Chicago.

6 People Charged With Coordinating Robberies in Chicago to Acquire Visas

According to a federal court indictment revealed on Friday, six individuals are facing fraud charges for allegedly staging armed robberies in and around Chicago. With the alleged intent of applying for immigration visas. Each of the individuals, 26 year old Parth Nayi, Kewon Young (31), the oldest 51 year old Bhikhabhai Patel, 32 year old Nilesh Patel, youngest 23 year old Ravinaben Patel, as well as Rajnikumar Patel who is also 32, face charges of conspiracy to commit visa fraud in relation to the alleged scheme. In addition to the fraud charges Patel is facing an extra charge, for allegedly providing false information in an application for a visa.

Prosecutors allege that the charges arise from an apparent plan involving the orchestration of simulated robberies at various establishments like restaurants, coffee shops, liquor stores, and gas stations across Chicago and its suburbs. The purpose of these staged incidents was to allow the claimed victims of these staged holdups to apply for U non-immigrant status. This status is reserved for certain crime victims who have suffered physical as well as mental abuse and have provided assistance to authorities in investigations or prosecutions.

According to prosecutors, Young and Nayi apparently coordinated the scheme, with participants allegedly paying Nayi thousands to take part in the crime. According to prosecutors, the pair allegedly executed similar fraudulent activities in suburban locations. Including Lombard, Elmwood Park, St. Charles, Hickory Hills, Lake Villa  River Grove, and South Holland. They also allegedly targeted restaurants in Louisiana and Tennessee.

Unraveling the Scheme, Simulated Robberies, Falsified Reports, and Visa Fraud Charges

The indictment reported that during the staged robberies, individuals masquerading as assailants approached their fabricated victims, they would pull out objects that mimicked the look of  firearms, and demanded money and personal belongings. The phoney assailants would then proceed to ‘steal’ money and belongings from so called victims before fleeing the scene. Allegedly, Young and Nayi instructed the individuals playing the role of robbers to physically strike the alleged victims in certain cases to enhance the illusion of a genuine robbery.

Following the robberies, the alleged victims would proceed to file police reports affirming their status as crime victims. They would then use these reports to submit fraudulent applications to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for U nonimmigrant status.

The legal document outlining the charges listed more than a dozen locations of staged robberies perpetrated as part of the scheme. These included incidents at gas stations in Lombard and Hickory Hills; multiple Subway chains in Chicago, Elmwood Park, Chicago, and Louisiana; a Tropical Smoothie Café based in St. Charles; Dunkin Donuts store locations in Chicago and South Holland; liquor stores in Chicago, Lake Villa, and River Grove, a Chicago based 7-Eleven, as well as a Tennessee based truck stop incident.

The Consequences of a False Robbery

In July of 2023, a staged robbery unfolded resulting in dire consequences. During the incident at Bucktown Food & Liquor, located at 1950 N. Milwaukee Ave, a 26-year-old clerk fell victim to a gunshot wound. Leaving the owner shocked by the dramatic turn of events. Surveillance footage captured two individuals dressed entirely in black entering the establishment. Despite compliance from both the store clerk and customers, who handed over wallets and other belongings, the assailant opened fire.

When approached by CBS 2, an employee of a Bucktown Liquor store professed unawareness of the store’s involvement in the federal case, citing absence during the robbery.

Xavier Borjas, an immigration attorney at the Borjas Law Group, underscored the seriousness of the defendants’ situation. Borjas specializes in helping crime victims obtain U-visas, intended to alleviate deportation fears and encourage reporting. He expressed disappointment at the misuse of such visas in cases like this, where genuine victims are overlooked.