US court orders deportation of Indian national Mitul Patel after sentencing in visa fraud case

US federal court in Boston ordered deportation of Indian national Mitul Patel after he pleaded guilty to visa fraud conspiracy.

Mitul Patel paid organizer Rambhai Patel to pose as a robbery victim in a staged armed robbery at a Worcester convenience store in October 2023.

The conspiracy staged fake armed robberies at six businesses in Massachusetts and other states to support fraudulent U visa applications.

Participants paid Rambhai Patel to be included in the scheme; store owners were compensated for allowing their businesses to be used.

U visa is available to victims of qualifying crimes who assist law enforcement; the scheme exploited this program.