Marshfield Man Among 11 Charged in Federal Visa Fraud Scheme
Marshfield, MA — March 13, 2026 — Federal authorities have announced the arrest of Jitendrakumar Patel, 39, of Marshfield, as part of a major visa fraud conspiracy involving 11 Indian nationals across several states.
According to prosecutors, the defendants staged armed robberies at convenience stores, liquor stores, and restaurants in Massachusetts and other states. The scheme allegedly allowed individuals to falsely claim they were victims of violent crimes to qualify for U‑visas, which are reserved for crime victims who assist law enforcement.
The staged incidents reportedly began in March 2023, with co‑conspirators threatening store clerks with weapons and taking cash before reporting the incidents to authorities, enabling fraudulent immigration applications.
Patel and the other defendants were residing illegally in the U.S. at the time of the charges. The federal charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud carries a potential sentence of up to five years in federal prison, along with fines and supervised release.
The case will proceed in federal court in Boston, where authorities will provide further details as the trial moves forward.
Residents are reminded that the FBI and local law enforcement continue to investigate visa and immigration fraud and urge anyone with information about similar schemes to come forward.
Dear Pilgrim
Have a local perspective to share? Send us your thoughts for the Pilgrim Letters.
Write to Us
No photo was available from the news agency at the time of publication.