News Summary
Federal prosecutors have unsealed a 62-count indictment against five individuals, including law enforcement officials, linked to an immigration fraud scheme involving false police reports. The charges include conspiracy, bribery, and visa fraud, with allegations that false U-Visa applications were submitted to benefit foreign nationals not victimized by crime. The operation has raised questions about the integrity of immigration processes and law enforcement integrity. The defendants could face significant prison time if convicted.
Lafayette, Louisiana – Federal prosecutors have unsealed a sweeping 62-count indictment against five individuals, including current and former law enforcement officials, involved in an extensive immigration fraud scheme linked to false police reports. This operation is part of a larger initiative known as “Operation Take Back America.”
The indictment charges Oakdale Police Chief Chad Doyle, City Marshal Michael Slaney, Forest Hill Police Chief Glynn Dixon, former Glenmora Police Chief Tibo Onishea, and businessman Chandrakant Patel. The charges brought against them include conspiracy, bribery, mail fraud, immigration fraud, visa fraud, and money laundering.
According to investigators, the alleged conspiracy spans over a decade, beginning in 2015 and continuing through July 2025. The group is accused of fraudulently obtaining hundreds of U-Visas—special visas set aside for individuals who are victims or witnesses of serious crimes and who assist law enforcement.
In the indictment, Patel is alleged to have collected payments from foreign nationals and coordinated with the law enforcement officers to fabricate U-Visa applications. It is reported that he received payments from individuals who were not legitimate victims or witnesses of crimes. Each law enforcement official allegedly earned $5,000 for every false police report they submitted in support of these U-Visa applications.
Federal prosecutors detailed over 50 acts indicated in the charges, highlighting specific instances of false police reports filed by the indicted officers. These reports falsely claimed that individuals were victims of armed robberies that did not take place. The fabricated reports facilitated the ability of foreign nationals and their families to remain in the United States under deceptive pretenses.
Investigators have noted an unusual frequency of armed robbery reports involving non-Louisiana residents, which upon investigation, were ultimately found to be fraudulent. The reports were characterized by fake case numbers and staged details designed to lend credibility to the claims.
Furthermore, the indictment outlines allegations of money laundering activities linked to the conspirators, involving the acquisition of material goods, real estate, vehicles, and personal expenses believed to be financed from the proceeds of their alleged illegal activities.
Coordinated searches were executed by federal authorities, including ICE and the FBI, at various locations throughout Rapides and Allen parishes. These included Chief Doyle’s residence. Notably, claims involving payments to a member of the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office were addressed, with assurances of cooperation from Sheriff Mark Wood concerning the investigation.
Prosecutors emphasize that the misuse of U-Visas undermines the integrity of the immigration system and erodes public trust in law enforcement agencies. The consequences for the defendants could be severe, with potential prison sentences ranging from up to five years for conspiracy, up to ten years for visa fraud, and up to twenty years for mail fraud. Specifically, Patel faces up to ten years for bribery.
The court proceedings related to the indictment will take place in the Alexandria division of Louisiana’s court system. Additionally, the indictment seeks the forfeiture of various assets, including bank accounts, vehicles, and properties believed to have been acquired through fraudulent activities.
As of now, Patel remains in custody, while the other four indicted individuals have been released with conditions, as they were not considered a flight risk or a danger to the community. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services had earlier expressed concerns regarding potential fraud within the U-Visa program following an audit conducted by the Office of Inspector General.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- ABC News: Louisiana Police Chiefs Arrested in Fake Visa Scheme
- Google Search: Lafayette Louisiana police chiefs arrested
- KALB: FBI Officials Hold Press Conference on Law Enforcement Activity
- Wikipedia: U-visa
- New York Times: Louisiana Police and Immigrant Visa Fraud
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Immigration Law
- Police1: Feds Charge Police Chiefs in Visa Fraud Scheme
- Google Scholar: Lafayette Louisiana visa fraud
- WBRZ: Officials Host News Conference on Police Chiefs Arrest
- Google News: Louisiana police chiefs visa fraud
Author: STAFF HERE NEWORLEANS WRITER
NEW ORLEANS STAFF WRITER The NEW ORLEANS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENewOrleans.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as French Quarter Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and Essence Music Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce and Greater New Orleans, Inc., plus leading businesses in energy, healthcare, and education that power the local economy such as Entergy, Ochsner Health, and Tulane University. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREShreveport.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Louisiana's dynamic landscape.
