Ringleader Sentenced in Immigration Fraud Scheme Involving Staged Robberies
Hundreds of fake crime incidents were orchestrated to help thousands fraudulently obtain U visas, the Department of Justice announced.
A man described as the "main organizer" of a scheme to defraud the U.S. immigration system by staging hundreds of armed robberies has been sentenced to two years in federal prison. Parth Nayi of Illinois was also ordered to pay restitution for his role in the conspiracy, which aimed to help thousands of noncitizens illegally obtain visa protections intended for victims of crimes who cooperate with law enforcement.
Prosecutors stated that Nayi orchestrated numerous staged armed robberies at businesses in and around Chicago, coaching the supposed victims on how to proceed with applications for U visas. This program, established by Congress in 2000, is designed to offer protections to victims of trafficking, domestic violence, and other serious crimes who assist law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting those crimes.
Thousands of individuals allegedly paid Nayi for their participation in the scheme, posing as victims of these fabricated crimes to qualify for the visas. Assistant U.S. Attorney Saqib Mohammad Hussain described Nayi as being "at the center of almost every single one of the hundreds of staged robberies that were perpetrated," adding that the defendant "significantly corrupted the federal U-Visa program."
Co-conspirators, including Bhikhabhai Patel, Nilesh Patel, Ravinaben Patel, and Rajnikumar Patel, allegedly sought out Nayi to arrange these staged events. Following the fake robberies, participants would be coached to submit I-918 supplements to law enforcement for certification that they had been victims of a qualifying crime. This certification is a key step in applying for U visas through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
In one instance in July 2023, a staged robbery at a Chicago liquor store resulted in a store employee being critically injured by a gunshot fired by one of the alleged assailants. The perpetrators then fled the scene in a stolen vehicle, according to reports.
The indictment identified more than a dozen locations used in the scheme, including businesses outside Illinois, such as a Subway in Louisiana and a truck stop in Middle Tennessee. The Department of Justice's indictment indicated that five other individuals besides Nayi have been convicted in connection with the scheme, though their names were not specified.
Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., who co-sponsored the anti-trafficking legislation that created the U visa, expressed strong disapproval of the program's abuse. He stated that anyone engaging in visa fraud or falsifying claims for government benefits should face the full extent of the law and jail time if found guilty. Smith emphasized the particular egregiousness of abusing a program meant to aid victims of human trafficking and other traumas who cooperate with police.