Federal prosecutors allege five individuals in Louisiana, including two active police chiefs, conspired to produce fake police reports in a scheme that helped immigrants obtain visas, according to a 62-count indictment unsealed Wednesday, July 16. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana said the scheme spanned nearly a decade, involving a $5,000 payment for each fake report.

The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice-led effort involving the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI and the IRS Criminal Investigation Division.

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Between Dec. 26, 2015, and at least Tuesday, July 15, 2025, businessman Chandrakant “Lala” Patel, Oakdale Police Chief Chad Doyle, Forest Hill Police Chief Glynn Dixon, former Glenmora Police Chief Tebo Onishea and Ward 5 Marshal Michael “Freck” Slaney allegedly created false reports that claimed immigrants were victims of Armed robbery.

How did the scheme work?

Investigators said those reports helped immigrants apply for U visas, which being a victim to a crime like a robbery makes them eligible for. According to the indictment, immigrants hoping to obtain U visas would reach out to Patel or work through others who would contact him directly. From there, Patel allegedly asked local law enforcement officials to create fake police reports claiming the individuals had been victims of armed robberies.

Federal prosecutors say those officers, Doyle, Dixon, Onishea and Slaney, also signed off on official paperwork needed for the visa applications, verifying the claims to be true.

Congress created the U visa in 2000 under the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act. It’s in place to help immigrants who are victims of qualifying crimes and assist law enforcement with their investigations. Applicants must submit specific forms, which are then signed by a law enforcement official.

The indictment also includes mail fraud charges for submitting false forms via U.S. mail or other carriers. If convicted, each defendant faces up to five years in prison for conspiracy, up to 10 years for visa fraud and up to 20 years for mail fraud. Patel could face an additional 10 years in prison for bribery. They could face additional fines up to $250,000 per count.

Recent cases of similar visa fraud

The Louisiana case isn’t the only instance of alleged U visa abuse. Federal prosecutors in Chicago uncovered a similar scheme in 2024 involving staged armed robberies across multiple states.

Federal prosecutors say Parth Nayi and Kewon Young conducted a series of fake robberies at gas stations, restaurants and liquor stores in Chicago, the suburbs and as far as Louisiana and Tennessee.

The supposed victims allegedly paid thousands of dollars to take part. Fake robbers would confront them with what appeared to be weapons, then demand money or property to make the scene look real. Afterward, some of the participants filed paperwork with law enforcement, claiming they were crime victims willing to cooperate in an investigation, a key requirement for the U visa.

Watchdog program highlighted flaws in the U visa program

A 2022 report from the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general found that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) failed to adequately manage the U visa program, raising concerns about fraud and inefficiency. According to the watchdog report, USCIS did not do enough to identify or track fraud.

Investigators flagged at least 10 approved petitions that included forged, altered or suspicious law enforcement certifications. The report says the agency also failed to monitor the outcomes of fraud referrals, potentially discouraging people from reporting suspected abuse of the system.

According to the inspector general, these problems persisted because USCIS had not implemented key recommendations from previous internal and external reviews.