A series of mini-mart and liquor store robberies across four states turned out to be a cover for a visa-fraud scheme, says the FBI.
Rather than seeking cash, participants allegedly paid over $10,000 to stage fake robberies, aiming to boost their U.S. visa applications. Even prop guns were reportedly used to make the staged incidents more convincing.
Two suspects, Rambhai Patel and Balwinder Singh, now face federal charges for their roles. Patel is accused of coordinating with fake victims and store owners, while Singh allegedly served as the getaway driver.
This case sheds light on the extremes some go to for immigration papers and raises questions about the vulnerabilities in visa programs designed to help genuine applicants.
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