A South Carolina convenience store owner has pleaded guilty to staging a fake robbery to help an Indian clerk obtain a U visa, but the clerk has since been deported to India.
COLUMBIA, SC – A convenience store owner in South Carolina has admitted to his role in orchestrating a fake robbery intended to assist an Indian store clerk in securing a U visa. However, the clerk was ultimately deported back to India, according to the Justice Department.
Birenkumar Rameshbhai Patel, 47, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to illegally obtain a U visa. This visa is designed to provide qualifying victims of crime with a pathway to lawful permanent residency and, eventually, U.S. citizenship.
Federal prosecutors revealed that Patel and the clerk staged the robbery at Patel’s convenience store in Fairfield County on March 9, 2025. During the incident, Patel concealed his face, donned a long-sleeved jacket, and pretended to rob the clerk. Following the staged robbery, a 911 call was made, and the clerk was taken to a hospital after law enforcement arrived on the scene.
Investigators later uncovered evidence indicating that the robbery had been fabricated to support the clerk’s claim of being a crime victim, which was necessary for his U visa application.
The clerk had entered the United States illegally on September 18, 2024, and was already facing deportation proceedings at the time of the staged robbery. His immigration hearing was scheduled for March 13, just four days after the incident. Ultimately, he was deported to India.
The Justice Department has not disclosed the clerk’s name, referring to him only as “C1” in court documents. It remains unclear whether he faced any separate charges or convictions related to the incident.
This case highlights the complexities and potential abuses surrounding the U visa program, which is intended to protect victims of crime while also allowing them to remain in the United States legally.
According to the Justice Department, Patel’s actions not only undermined the integrity of the U visa process but also posed serious legal consequences for both himself and the clerk involved.