Chicago Man Gets 2 Years for Fake Robbery Visa Fraud Scheme

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A Chicago man has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for orchestrating a fake robbery scheme to help illegal migrants obtain U-visas. Parth Nayi, 29, was convicted of organizing 17 fake armed robberies between 2022 and 2024 at small businesses across the city and its suburbs.

Organized Immigration Fraud

Nayi recruited illegal migrants, primarily from Latin and South American countries, to pretend to be robbery victims. These migrants would pay him up to $10,000 to participate in the scheme. The fake robberies were carefully orchestrated with the help of store employees, ensuring no one was harmed. However, a 2023 incident resulted in a store employee being shot by a fake robber, though the victim survived.

Visa Fraud and Legal Consequences

As part of the scheme, migrants would file for U-visas by claiming they were victims of violent crimes and agreed to assist in investigations. The U-visa program, established in 2000, is intended to help solve crimes in communities where migrants often avoid police due to fear of deportation. Nayi pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit visa fraud and was sentenced to two years in prison and a $50,000 fine. Five others were also convicted in the case.

Federal Investigations and Broader Implications

Federal officials have launched similar investigations in Massachusetts, Kentucky, Ohio, and Missouri. Several of the migrants involved are part of the Patel family network, which has been linked to multiple crimes. In one case, Rambhai Patel set up fake robberies in Massachusetts, where clerks would hand over money to the sham robber and then call police after the accomplice had fled.

Program Misuse and Oversight

A recent study by the Center for Immigration Studies found that over 416,000 U-visa petitions have been filed, far exceeding the program’s annual limit of 10,000. Despite the program’s intent to reward those who assist in crime-solving, many petitions are granted without evidence of actual cooperation with law enforcement.

Source: Breitbart

Written by

claire.thomson