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Indian-origin bizman among 5 indicted in visa fraud case in Louisiana
Chandrakant Patel and four Louisiana officers indicted for falsifying police reports to help migrants fraudulently obtain U-Visas.
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Pranavi Sharma - Fri, 18, Jul 2025
- 03:07 EDT
- 16
Chandrakant Patel. / X/@jattaviator
Chandrakant Patel, a 61-year-old Indian-origin business owner based in Oakdale, Louisiana, has been indicted alongside four current and former law enforcement officers in central Louisiana on charges related to a wide-ranging visa fraud and bribery scheme, federal prosecutors announced July 16.
A grand jury in the Western District of Louisiana returned a 62-count indictment accusing Patel and the officers of conspiring to defraud the U.S. immigration system by fabricating police reports to help foreign nationals illegally obtain U-Visas — a special visa designated for victims of certain crimes who assist law enforcement.
The officers indicted are Chad Doyle, Chief of Police for Oakdale; Michael Slaney, Marshal of the Ward 5 Marshal’s Office; Glynn Dixon, Chief of Police in Forest Hill; and Tebo Onishea, former Chief of Police in Glenmora.
According to the indictment, from December 2015 through July 2025, the defendants allegedly authored and submitted false police reports in multiple Louisiana parishes. These reports falsely claimed that various individuals were victims of armed robberies — claims prosecutors say were made solely to support fraudulent U-Visa applications.
Patel is accused of acting as a broker in the scheme, connecting visa-seeking individuals with his law enforcement co-defendants, who then signed off on required documents certifying the fake crimes.
Prosecutors allege that Patel collected thousands of dollars from individuals in exchange for listing them as robbery victims. He then coordinated with police officials to generate fraudulent supporting paperwork. On at least one occasion, the indictment states, Patel offered a $5,000 bribe to an agent with the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office for a false police report.
The U-Visa, created under the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000, allows certain undocumented immigrants who are victims of serious crimes to remain in the U.S. if they assist in investigations or prosecutions. Certification from law enforcement is a key part of the application.
Between 2023 and 2024, Doyle, Slaney, Dixon, and Onishea allegedly signed forms falsely stating that these individuals were cooperating victims of crime, knowing no such crimes had occurred.
In addition to conspiracy and visa fraud, the indictment includes charges of mail fraud and money laundering. Prosecutors are also seeking forfeiture of real estate, vehicles, and bank accounts linked to the alleged scheme.
If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison for mail fraud, 10 years for visa fraud, and 5 years for conspiracy. Patel faces an additional 10 years for bribery.
The investigation is part of “Operation Take Back America,” a nationwide federal immigration enforcement effort led by Homeland Security Investigations and the Department of Justice.
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