The federal authorities in the USA have charged five individuals, including a Gujarat-origin NRI businessman named Chandrakant Lala Patel and four law enforcement officers, in connection with a large-scale U-visa fraud scheme for allegedly protecting undocumented immigrants who are victims or witnesses of serious crimes. Chandrakant Lala Patel is named as the mastermind of the operation, and he allegedly paid officers to furnish fraudulent police reports, enabling foreign nationals to file fake U-visa applications.
Announcing the 62-count indictment, Attorney Alex Van Hook of the Western District of Louisiana accused the defendants of misusing their positions to create fraudulent crime reports that wrongly identified individuals as victims of serious offenses. The U-visa program was created in 2000 to allow immigrants who assist the US law enforcement in investigating or prosecuting crimes to live in the US legally. However, the federal authorities alleged that individuals involved in the case were not actual victims or witnesses of crimes.
The four accused enforcement officers include Oakdale Police Chief Chad Doyle, Michael Freck Slaney of the Ward 5 Marshal’s Office, Forest Hill Police Chief Glynn Dixon, and former Glenmora Police Chief Tebo Onishea. Chandrakant Patel allegedly bribed the four accused officers $5,000 for each fake police report to enable foreign immigrants and their family members live in the US. Attorney Alex Van Hook highlighted that both the immigration and justice systems could face serious consequences due to this grave abuse of public trust.
The investigation has led to the indictment of the five accused, with more serious charges to be leveled. Attorney Van Hook warned that law enforcement officers resorting to fraud and obstruction of justice would be held accountable. The US Attorney’s Office is continuing to review evidence, and the defendants could face substantial prison sentences and fines if convicted.
