A robbery that occurred in January and resulted in the death of the perpetrator, Rasshauud Scott, was recently discovered to be staged as part of an immigration scheme. According to police, the incident, which took place at a Houston gas station, was orchestrated by Scott and William Winfrey, a man who has since confessed to planning the staged robbery. The two “victims” of the robbery, who have remained unnamed, were actually complicit in the scheme and were looking to obtain temporary residency visas through the fake crime.
The supposed robbery made headlines when it first occurred. Scott, armed with a gun, held a couple at gunpoint and proceeded to pistol-whip the male victim before fleeing the scene. As he ran, he was shot and killed by a bystander, Jesus Vargas, who has since been identified as a man on probation who was not allowed to possess a firearm. Vargas fled the scene before police arrived, but as the investigation continued, it was discovered that the robbery was not what it seemed.
After months of investigation, evidence has come to light that indicates the “robbery” was staged to help the couple obtain visas through the Department of Homeland Security. A selfie of one of the “victims” was found on Scott’s phone, and text messages between Scott and Winfrey show that the pair planned the crime. The messages reveal that Winfrey paid Scott to fake the robbery so the victims could use it as a means to stay in the United States.
Winfrey has since confessed to orchestrating the staged robberies and has been charged with murder. The Department of Homeland Security offers U visas to non-citizens who have been victimized by certain crimes and are helpful in the investigation or prosecution of those crimes. It is clear that Scott and Winfrey were attempting to take advantage of this visa program by making it appear as though the couple were victims of a crime.
Police have also discovered that Scott and Winfrey had staged similar robberies in the past. In fact, on the night before the fatal robbery, they had set up another one where Scott pretended to rob a cashier at a gas station. The two “victims” are yet to face any criminal charges, but it is possible that they could face consequences for attempting to abuse the U visa program. As for Vargas, the decision on whether to charge him in Scott’s death is still pending a grand jury’s decision.
The U visa program was created to aid federal authorities in their fight against human trafficking, domestic assault, and other crimes. However, those who try to take advantage of the system could potentially be banned from the country permanently. In the case of Scott and Winfrey, it appears that they were using the fake robberies as a means to obtain temporary residency visas for the “victims.” However, with the truth now revealed, it is unclear what consequences the couple and Winfrey will face for their actions.