A Florida man vanished during the third day of his federal trial Tuesday over an alleged scheme to stage armed robberies for U visas, but the jury kept going and convicted him of lying on a visa application. Rajnikumar Patel's sudden absence turned an already bizarre Chicago case into a courtroom cliffhanger, with authorities tracking his white Toyota Camry through Indiana, Tennessee and Alabama.
Patel, 34, failed to appear at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after closing arguments, and his lawyer told the Chicago Tribune he had not heard from him. U.S. District Judge Mary Rowland issued an arrest warrant, while authorities conducted a well-being check at Patel's most recent residence in Rockford. Rowland allowed the trial to continue before the jury in Patel's absence.
The case began with an alleged multi-state operation led by Parth Nayi and Kewon Young, who prosecutors say arranged fake holdups at Subway restaurants, Dunkin' shops, liquor stores, gas stations and a smoothie business. Earlier coverage by WTTW described the scheme as an effort to create apparent crime victims who could seek U nonimmigrant status, commonly known as U visas.
How A Fake South Holland Robbery Became Evidence
One of the staged incidents was a February 2023 Dunkin' robbery in South Holland. Patel agreed to be one of two fake victims and asked Nayi to have the robbers punch him, according to the federal indictment. One purported robber then knocked Patel from his chair and rifled through his pockets, prosecutors said, making the staged crime appear more convincing.
Patel later submitted a sworn U-visa statement in May 2024 while under indictment and on pretrial release, claiming he had suffered substantial mental injury. He described two or three people brandishing guns and entering the shop, an account that prosecutors argued was false.
What The U Visa Requires
A U visa is not a general immigration shortcut. USCIS guidance says applicants must be victims of qualifying criminal activity, suffer substantial mental or physical abuse and be helpful to authorities investigating or prosecuting the crime.
The alleged scheme was built around manufacturing the paperwork and police certifications needed to make those requirements appear satisfied. Federal prosecutors said participants paid thousands of dollars, staged robberies using weapons that appeared real, and then sought certifications from local police departments.
Similar Schemes Have Surfaced Around The Country
The Chicago prosecution is not the only recent federal case involving alleged staged robberies and U-visa applications. A man in Massachusetts was sentenced in 2025 after prosecutors said he helped stage at least 18 robberies, while Missouri prosecutors charged two men in a separate scheme involving purported victims and fake armed attacks.
Patel's Sentencing Is Set For November
The jury convicted Patel of making a false statement in a visa application, a federal offense carrying a maximum penalty of up to 10 years behind bars. The Chicago Tribune reported that Judge Rowland set Patel's sentencing for November 30, while Nayi is scheduled for sentencing September 2. Three other defendants have already received sentences ranging from probation to time served, and Young pleaded guilty in January.
