Indian national in Pennsylvania convicted of visa fraud by staging store robbery

iNDICA NEWS BUREAU–

A 33-year-old Indian national in Pennsylvania has been convicted of multiple counts related to visa fraud and conspiracy, following a three-day jury trial. Vinaykumar Patel was the manager of the Fuel-On convenience store in Lock Haven city, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Three other Indians were also tried for the crime.

Judge Matthew W. Brann ordered Patel detained pending sentencing.

In June 2019, Patel contacted an associate of his in New Jersey and asked that person to hire someone to stage a robbery at the Fuel-On store. The staged robbery was investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police, according to US Attorney Gerard M. Karam.

Patel then used the PSP (Pre-employment Screening Program) reports of the robbery to apply for a U-visa. The U-visa is a special visa offered by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to non-citizens who are victims of crime and who are cooperative with law enforcement.

The U non-immigrant visas were created in October 2000 for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and other crimes and their family members. Applicants are required to submit a personal statement describing the criminal activity of which they were the victim along with documentation of treatment for injuries or emotional distress.

Patel had no lawful immigration status in the US at the time of the staged robbery as his tourist visa had long expired. He faces a maximum penalty of 25 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.

According to local media outlet PennLive, Rohitkumar Patel, of Jersey City, New Jersey, and Jeel Patel, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty in July to charges of conspiracy to commit fraud and make false statements about visa and healthcare matters. Because Rohitkumar Patel had already served more than the maximum under the sentencing guidelines, Brann in September ordered him to be turned over to immigration offices for deportation.

He previously was deported in 2001 and 2007 but returned to the U.S. each time. Jeel Patel was sentenced to time served and referred to immigration officials for deportation.

The fourth person charged was Tapan Trivedi of Naperville, Illinois, who was on trial with Vinaykumar Patel. Judge Brann, following the completion of the prosecution’s case last week, granted a defense motion for acquittal finding the government failed to provide sufficient evidence to show Trivedi was aware of the conspiracy. His charges included mail fraud, making false statements to healthcare providers and conspiracy to do the same.

Brann denied a similar defense motion for Vinaykumar Patel resulting in his charges going to the jury.

All but Rohitkumar Patel were in the store the night of the robbery. Jurors saw videos of the holdup.

Rohitkumar Patel, according to the testimony, made the arrangements to have Terrence Summers of South Carolina commit the robbery. Summers, a convicted criminal, admitted in court he was paid to do so.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Clinton County District Attorney’s Office.

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