A 33-year-old Indian national, Vinaykumar Patel, has been found guilty of multiple charges related to visa fraud and conspiracy after a three-day jury trial in Pennsylvania, USA. Patel, the manager of Fuel-On convenience store in Lock Haven city, orchestrated a staged robbery in June 2019. Following the incident, he utilized Pennsylvania State Police reports of the fake robbery to apply for a U-visa, a special visa for crime victims cooperating with law enforcement. Notably, Patel lacked lawful immigration status in the US during the staged robbery. The U-visa is granted by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services. Patel now faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison, supervised release, and fines. The case was investigated by the FBI, Pennsylvania State Police, and the Clinton County District Attorney’s Office.
Key Points:
1. Vinaykumar Patel, a 33-year-old Indian national and manager of Fuel-On convenience store in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, has been found guilty of visa fraud and conspiracy charges after a three-day jury trial.
2. Patel orchestrated a staged robbery in June 2019 and subsequently used Pennsylvania State Police reports of the fake incident to apply for a U-visa, designed for crime victims cooperating with law enforcement.
3. Importantly, at the time of the staged robbery, Patel did not have lawful immigration status in the US.
4. The U-visa, granted by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, is intended for crime victims assisting law enforcement.
5. Patel now faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison, along with supervised release and fines. The investigation involved the FBI, Pennsylvania State Police, and the Clinton County District Attorney’s Office.
(With Agency Inputs)
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