BOSTON (WWLP) - An Indian national residing unlawfully in New York was sentenced in Boston federal court for his role in a visa fraud conspiracy involving staged armed robberies.

In a news release from the Department of Justice, 38-year-old Rambhai Patel was involved in a scheme staging armed robberies at convenience stores, liquor stores, and fast-food restaurants across the United States, including at least five in Massachusetts. The staged robberies were intended to help store clerks apply for U nonimmigrant status (U Visa) by claiming they were victims of violent crimes.

During these staged incidents, a 'robber' would threaten clerks with an apparent firearm, take cash, and run, while the interaction was recorded on surveillance video. The clerks would wait before reporting the 'crim

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