A Mexican national has been sentenced to nearly two years in federal prison for his role in a scheme that staged violent robberies to help immigrants fraudulently obtain U-Visas, a special immigration benefit intended for victims of certain crimes who assist law enforcement.
Jose Luis Morales Salgado, 37, a Mexican citizen living in the Kansas City area, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit visa fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.
In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips ordered Salgado to forfeit $61,200, representing proceeds he received through the fraudulent operation.
Scheme Targeted U-Visa program
Federal prosecutors said Salgado admitted that immigrants paid him thousands of dollars to participate in staged armed robberies so they could later claim to be victims of violent crime when applying for U-Visas.
The U-Visa program was established under the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act to encourage victims of certain crimes to cooperate with law enforcement. Applicants must demonstrate they were victims of qualifying criminal activity, suffered substantial physical or mental abuse, possess information about the crime, and are willing to assist investigators or prosecutors.
According to court documents, some of the immigrants involved in the conspiracy were in the United States illegally, while others held lawful work visas.
In exchange for payment, Salgado directed participants to predetermined locations where fake robberies would occur.
Authorities Say Robberies Were Carefully Orchestrated
Salgado admitted he recruited individuals to act as armed robbers and coordinated the staged attacks.
According to prosecutors, the purported victims would report vehicle trouble and pull over before another vehicle arrived. A masked individual armed with a firearm would then:
- Strike the victims in the head or face.
- Steal cash from them.
- Fire two rounds into the victims’ vehicle.
Afterward, Salgado instructed participants on how to falsely report the incidents to police in an effort to strengthen future U-Visa applications.
Investigation Uncovered Pattern
The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department initially identified 11 robberies that followed nearly identical patterns between December 2021 and July 2024.
Investigators linked the incidents through the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN), which matched shell casings recovered from multiple crime scenes to the same firearm. Detectives also used city surveillance cameras and license plate reader data to identify vehicles connected to the staged robberies.
Court records indicate investigators documented 11 staged robberies involving 33 purported victims. Of those individuals, 18 submitted fraudulent U-Visa applications claiming they had been victims of violent crimes.
Authorities also received information from a source indicating the total number of participants in the broader scheme may have exceeded 100 people.
Undercover Operation Led to Arrest
The investigation culminated in an undercover operation in January 2025.
According to prosecutors, an undercover federal agent met with Salgado and arranged to pay $4,000 to stage a robbery that would support a fraudulent U-Visa application.
During the recorded meeting, Salgado allegedly assured the undercover agent he would “put on a grand show.” The agent paid an initial $500 deposit, and Salgado was arrested during a follow-up meeting on January 30, 2025.
Multi-Agency Investigation
The case was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford prosecuted the case.
Federal officials said the prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative focused on combating illegal immigration, dismantling transnational criminal organizations, and prosecuting fraud and violent crime.
Provided by Dallas Express
