Federal prosecutors sentenced Parth Nayi to two years in federal prison on Thursday for conspiracy to commit visa fraud. The 29-year-old man from Woodridge, Illinois, also faces a $50,000 fine after admitting guilt to his role in a massive fraud ring.
The Department of Justice stated that thousands of individuals paid Nayi sums ranging from $5,000 to $30,000 each to pretend they were victims of fabricated crimes. These fake victims used their participation to apply for U-Visas, which are meant for foreign nationals who help law enforcement.
Nayi recruited people to act as victims and hired others to play the role of armed robbers at coffee shops and gas stations. Describing a U-Visa, the Department of Homeland Security notes it is reserved for victims of specific crimes who endured physical or mental abuse and assist law enforcement or government officials in investigating or prosecuting criminal acts.
Prosecutors labeled Nayi “the main organizer and at the center of almost every single one” among the hundreds of staged robberies occurring between 2022 and 2024, according to RedState. The plan required victims to report the fake crimes to police and cooperate with investigators to secure their immigration status.
The fraud continued smoothly until a staged robbery at Bucktown Food & Liquor in Chicago went terribly wrong on July 13, 2023. Three masked men entered the store and demanded money, but one of the fake robbers accidentally fired his gun and struck a 26-year-old clerk.
🚨#SENTENCING Parth Nayi, a suburban Chicago man, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for conspiring to stage armed robberies so that the purported victims could apply for U.S. immigration visas reserved for crime victims. To read more about this investigation, please visit: https://t.co/EsFnwasRRc
The FBI would like to remind you to report any suspected incidents of fraud to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or online at https://t.co/YsyApSvbbb. Tips can remain anonymous.
https://t.co/mKF47jJ8qi
— FBI Chicago (@FBIChicago) October 26, 2026
CWB Chicago reported that the clerk was critically injured in the abdomen during the incident. This single moment proved that a fake crime can quickly become a real tragedy for innocent bystanders.
Five other people were targeted as fake victims during that specific incident, but the shooting changed the nature of the entire case. Nayi carried out the scheme with Kewon Young, who also pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges earlier this year.
The Justice Department noted that the staged robberies occurred at locations including Subway and Dunkin’ in the Chicago area. Other incidents were staged at a truck stop in Belvidere, Tennessee, and a Subway in Rayne, Louisiana.
Several individuals seeking these visas, including Bhikhabhai Patel and Nilesh Patel, also pleaded guilty to their participation in the scheme. This visa remains valid for four years and may lead to a green card application or residency status for family members.
Nayi’s sentence marks the end of a two-year operation that exploited the immigration system for profit. The FBI keeps urging the public to submit reports of any suspected fraud cases to their Chicago office.
