Visa Fraud Scheme: Indian-Origin Businessman and Police Chiefs Charged
In a startling revelation, Chandrakant “Lala” Patel, an Indian-origin businessman, along with police chiefs from three Louisiana cities, has been charged with conspiracy and visa fraud. This scheme involved creating fake crime reports to exploit a U.S. visa program designed for victims of crime, leading to a significant legal fallout.
The Allegations Unveiled
Patel and the implicated police officials were indicted by a federal grand jury after a thorough investigation. Acting federal prosecutor Alexander Van Hook from Lafayette explained that these charges stemmed from a series of fraudulent armed robbery reports designed to support unwarranted visa claims. Essentially, these individuals concocted fictitious crime scenarios to enable non-victims to obtain "U Visas," a special visa category available for crime victims willing to assist law enforcement agencies in investigations.
The Mechanics of the Fraud
Evidence from court documents suggests that Patel, a man who previously secured a crime victim visa for himself, paid $5,000 to the police officials for each crime referral. These referrals saw individuals falsely listed as victims, aiding in the fraudulent applications for U Visas. Notably, the paperwork identified 25 individuals, all sharing the last name Patel, marked only by initials. Investigations revealed that none of these purported victims had encountered any actual crimes, despite being falsely labeled as “cooperating victims.”
Key Figures in the Case
Among those charged are Glynn Dixon from Forest Hill, Tebo Onishea from Glenmora, and Chad Doyle from Oakdale, with Michael Slaney, the Oakdale City Marshal, also implicated. In a tangential development, Doyle’s wife, Allison Doyle, faced separate state-level corruption charges, although she has yet to be federally charged.
Patel held ownership of two retail outlets and managed a fast-food establishment. Investigators have tracked $230,000 in payments and at least $51,000 in property associated with this fraudulent scheme, illustrating the considerable financial implications of the operation.
A Broader Pattern of Fraud
This case is not an isolated incident. A similar scheme unfolded in Massachusetts, where two Indian-origin men, Rambhai Patel and Balwinder Singh, pleaded guilty for their roles in staging a series of fake robberies. These incidents occurred in various retail environments, aimed at allowing store employees or owners to falsely claim victim status to secure U Visas. The deception involved staging armed robberies with firearms, leveraging the fear and chaos to make fraudulent claims.
According to court documentation, in one notable instance, a person paid $20,000 for a staged robbery, revealing the lengths to which these perpetrators would go to exploit the visa system.
Implications and Ongoing Investigations
The sheer scale of fraudulent activities and the involvement of law enforcement officials raise serious questions about ethics, accountability, and oversight within the police departments involved. As these investigations unfold, more details may emerge regarding the mechanisms of deception and the potential for systemic abuse within programs meant to assist genuine victims.
The legal ramifications extend beyond the individuals directly charged, as this case underscores the necessity for robust safeguards within immigration and visa processes to prevent exploitation and safeguard legitimate avenues for support.
This unfolding saga not only highlights legal and ethical violations but also serves as a grim reminder of the vulnerabilities in systems designed to protect the innocent.
