fake Indian armed rubbers arrested

Two Indian men Rambhai Patel 36, and Balwinder Singh 39, have been arrested and charged with one count of conspiracy to commit U visa theft. 

The fake rubbers Rambhai and Balwinder Singh, They are  both residents of New York But are of India origin. they were arrested on 13th December 2023.

Federal prosecutors said that Patel and Singh carried out this staged operation at at least eight locations, where a “robber” would steal cash from the register in front of a store’s surveillance camera after threatening a store clerk with what appeared to be a gun.

The main intention was to help the victims apply for special immigration visas.

U visa

sample of the U nonimmigrant status (u visa)

According to the US citizens and immigration services, the U visa  is set aside for victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and are helpful to law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity.

Congress created the U nonimmigrant visa with the passage of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (including the Battered Immigrant Women’s Protection Act) in October 2000.

The legislation was intended to strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking of noncitizens and other crimes,  while also protecting victims of crimes who have suffered substantial mental or physical abuse due to the crime. The legislation also helps law enforcement agencies to better serve victims of crimes.

Reports seen on Hindustime website states that states that the robbery started in 2023, and they have successfully executed it in at least eight locations. Their target are convenience stores and food joints, the registers calls the police after fives minutes of the fake rubber’s exit.

reports also shows that the victims pays the two fake rubbers for their action, the rubbers in turn pays the store-owners for letting them make use of the stores. Singh one of the two fake rubbers was arrested in Queens and is to appear before a judge in Boston federal court. Singh, who was arrested in Seattle, could face federal prosecutors in Boston later sometime, according to prosecutors, New York Post reported.
Both of them, if convicted, could face up to five years behind bars, as well as a fine up to $250,000.