Latest news with #ChandrakantPatel
India Today
18-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Indian-origin man, US cops charged in fake robbery scam to get immigrants U-visas
An Indian-origin restaurateur has been named as the central figure in a federal indictment charging him with orchestrating a nearly decade-long fraud scheme to fabricate police reports to help illegal immigrants apply for U-visas that allow certain crime victims to stay in the US, according to Louisiana officials. Four law enforcement officers, including three small-town Louisiana police chiefs are also among the comes amid the Donald Trump administration is working to close loopholes that let illegal immigrants remain in the US. Interestingly, more and more incidents of staged armed robberies to secure U-visas are being prosecutors allege that Chandrakant Patel, alias Lala, from Oakdale in Louisiana, along with three active and one former small-town police chief, conspired to falsify crime reports to help non-citizens fraudulently obtain U-visas – special visas intended for victims of crimes who cooperate with US law enforcement. US Attorney Alexander C Van Hook, at a news conference in Lafayette, said the police officials were paid $5,000 (Rs 4.18 lakh) for each name they provided falsified reports for, and that there were hundreds of names over the years, news agency Associated Press (AP) had been "an unusual concentration of armed robberies of people who were not from Louisiana," Van Hook said, noting that two other people were also charged in the alleged scheme, AP reported. He clarified that the armed robberies never took added that the U-visas also allowed family members to remain in the country. He added that over "hundreds of visas" were approved, according to a Louisiana-based news channel, WBRZ also bribed a member of the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office $5,000 on February 18, 2025, with the intent to influence and reward them in exchange for a fraudulent police report from the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office, WBRZ 2 investigation into the visa scheme began following a tip from immigration services in 2024 regarding the alleged crimes in central and western Louisiana, according to Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Eric this month, a federal grand jury in Shreveport charged the five accused with 62 criminal counts, including working together to commit visa fraud, taking bribes, mailing false documents, and laundering money, according to Van charged are Oakdale Police Chief Chad Doyle, Forest Hill Police Chief Glynn Dixon, former Glenmora Police Chief Tebo Onishea, Michael "Freck" Slaney, a marshal in Oakdale, and Chandrakant "Lala" Patel, an Oakdale IMMIGRANTS PAID TO BE FALSELY NAMED AS ARMED ROBBERY VICTIMSMulti-agencies, including US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Homeland Security, and the Department of Justice, are probing the indictment alleges that as part of this conspiracy to defraud the government, aliens seeking U-visas would contact Patel – or another facilitator who would then contact Patel – to be named as "victims" in police reports alleging that an armed robbery had occurred, so that they could apply for the visas, USCIS said in a statement issued on indictment also alleges that aliens paid Patel thousands of dollars to participate, and in exchange, Patel would ask his co-conspirators, including Doyle, Slaney, Dixon, and Onishea, to write false police reports naming the aliens as victims of alleged armed robberies and provide certification and attestation of USCIS Form I-918B supporting documents as representatives of their respective law enforcement agencies, it fraud scheme dates back to December 2015 and saw the group conspiring to fraudulently obtain U-visas reserved for victims of crimes like armed convicted, the defendants could face years or even decades of jail time. Court and jail records don't list attorneys for any of them, AP in May, an Indian man, Rambhal Patel, in New York pleaded guilty to staging robberies at nine locations across the country, exposing a big visa racket to help Indian illegal immigrants stay back in the US. Since March 2023, Rambhal Patel and his accomplices staged at least nine robberies across American states.- Ends advertisement
The Hindu
18-07-2025
- The Hindu
Indian-origin businessman charged with committing visa fraud in U.S.
An Indian-origin businessman and four U.S. law enforcement officials, including three police chiefs, were charged with committing visa fraud in Louisiana. Chandrakant Patel, a resident of Oakdale, along with Chad Doyle, Glynn Dixon, Tebo Onishea, and Michael Slaney, a city marshal, was indicted in Lafayette on Wednesday (July 16). They were charged for creating false crime reports to support visa claims of immigrants under the U.S. government's U visa programme, according to a court document. "The U nonimmigrant status (U visa) is set aside for victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse," according to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website. Also Read | 'Unscrupulous' agents provide short-term loans to U.S. visa applicants to convince Embassy officials Immigrants contacted Patel to be named as victims in police reports alleging that an armed robbery had occurred, so that they could apply for U visas, the document said. Patel would ask his co-conspirators to write false police reports after charging immigrants thousands of dollars. Patel is the owner of two stores in Louisiana, one in Glenmore and another in Oakdale. He also operated a fast-food restaurant franchise in Oakdale. Patel was himself granted a U-Visa in 2023, based on his alleged status as a victim of armed robbery. The case is being investigated and prosecuted by a Homeland Security Task Force established by President Trump as part of Operation Take Back America, the USCIS said in a press release.
News18
18-07-2025
- News18
Indian-origin businessman charged with committing visa fraud in US
Agency: PTI Last Updated: New York, Jul 18 (PTI) An Indian-origin businessman and four US law enforcement officials, including three police chiefs, were charged with committing visa fraud in Louisiana. Chandrakant Patel, a resident of Oakdale, along with Chad Doyle, Glynn Dixon, Tebo Onishea, and Michael Slaney, a city marshal, was indicted in Lafayette on Wednesday. They were charged for creating false crime reports to support visa claims of immigrants under the US government's U visa programme, according to a court document. 'The U nonimmigrant status (U visa) is set aside for victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse," according to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website. Immigrants contacted Patel to be named as victims in police reports alleging that an armed robbery had occurred, so that they could apply for U visas, the document said. Patel would ask his co-conspirators to write false police reports after charging immigrants thousands of dollars. Patel is the owner of two stores in Louisiana, one in Glenmore and another in Oakdale. He also operated a fast-food restaurant franchise in Oakdale. Patel was himself granted a U-Visa in 2023, based on his alleged status as a victim of armed robbery. The case is being investigated and prosecuted by a Homeland Security Task Force established by President Trump as part of Operation Take Back America, the USCIS said in a press release. PTI RD RD RD view comments First Published: July 18, 2025, 13:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
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Business Standard
18-07-2025
- Business Standard
U visa abuse: Fake crimes, real green cards - a $5,000 scam in US explained
A visa created to protect immigrants who are victims of serious crime has now become the focus of a federal fraud investigation in the United States. US Department of Justice indicted five men from Louisiana—including four active and former law enforcement officers on July 17, 2025, on charges of conspiracy, bribery, visa fraud and mail fraud, following a probe initiated by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The case centres on the U visa, a special nonimmigrant visa meant for victims of crimes who cooperate with law enforcement. It offers temporary stay and protection from deportation, but officials say it was abused by those sworn to uphold the law. False police reports and fake victims According to a 62-count indictment released by the US Department of Justice, the accused allegedly ran a nearly decade-long scheme to create fake police reports of armed robberies so immigrants could falsely claim U visa eligibility. 'The indictment alleges the defendants produced false police reports so that the aliens who were supposedly victims of the robberies could apply for U visas,' USCIS said in a statement on Thursday. The accused are: 1. Chandrakant Patel, also known as 'Lala', of Oakdale 2. Chad Doyle, chief of police, City of Oakdale 3. Michael Slaney, known as 'Freck', marshal, Ward 5 Marshal's Office in Oakdale 4. Glynn Dixon, chief of police, City of Forest Hill 5. Tebo Onishea, former chief of police, City of Glenmora All five are charged with conspiring to commit visa fraud. They face up to 5 years in prison for conspiracy, 10 years for visa fraud, 20 years for mail fraud, and \$250,000 in fines per count if convicted. Patel also faces up to 10 years for bribery. Fake crimes for real visas Prosecutors say immigrants seeking U visas would contact Patel or his network, who then arranged to have them named as victims in fabricated police reports. Officers allegedly signed USCIS Form I-918B—used to certify cooperation from law enforcement—without any real investigation. In one instance, Patel allegedly offered $5,000 to an agent of the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office in February 2025 for a forged police report. Aliens paid Patel thousands of dollars to be listed as crime victims, according to the indictment. Law enforcement officers allegedly authored and certified the reports in exchange for payment. Operation Take Back America The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a joint effort of the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. The task force was created under President Donald Trump's Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. USCIS officers first flagged suspicious patterns in U visa applications, prompting a multi-agency investigation involving fraud detection units and local prosecutors. How the U visa is supposed to work The U visa was introduced by the US Congress in October 2000 under the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act. It was meant to help crime victims—such as those affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, or trafficking—gain temporary status in the US while helping law enforcement with investigations. To be eligible, applicants must: Be victims of qualifying criminal activity Have suffered physical or mental abuse Possess information about the crime Be helpful to law enforcement Have been involved in crimes that occurred in the US or violated US laws Be otherwise admissible under immigration law (or apply for a waiver) Crimes that qualify include: Domestic violence, sexual assault, rape, stalking, and trafficking Felonious assault, extortion, abduction, and involuntary servitude Perjury, witness tampering, and obstruction of justice Attempts or conspiracies linked to these offences Applicants must also submit Form I-918 Supplement B, a certificate of helpfulness signed by a law enforcement agency. Certifying bodies include police departments, prosecutors, judges, child protective services, and certain federal agencies. Green card path and growing concerns over fraud U visa holders can apply for permanent residency after three years of continuous physical presence in the US. They must submit Form I-485 along with medical records, identity documents, travel history, and evidence of cooperation with law enforcement. There are five U visa categories, covering victims and certain family members: U-1: Primary applicants who are crime victims U-2: Spouses of U-1 holders U-3: Children U-4: Parents (if U-1 is under 21) U-5: Minor siblings (if U-1 is under 21) Over the years, the programme has drawn criticism for delays and abuse. In a 2022 report, the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general found the scheme poorly managed, vulnerable to fraud, and not helpful in solving crimes. More than half the surveyed law enforcement agencies said they believed the programme was being abused. A 2023 case exposed a multi-state network staging fake robberies for visa benefits. In 2024, one such staged robbery led to the fake assailant being shot by a bystander. While the U visa was meant as protection for those in genuine need, recent investigations suggest it's increasingly being used as a tool to exploit the system. But should the visa now be completely scrapped? Despite the fraud revelations, expert warn against dismantling the U visa programme altogether. Claire Holba, immigration policy analyst at the Niskanen Center, wrote in a blog post that critics often overlook the core reason the visa exists: to support those without legal status who become victims of serious crimes. 'A common criticism of the U visa is that petitioners lack proper immigration documentation,' she noted. 'But this ignores the fact that the visa was designed precisely because they don't have it.' Holba argued that the system isn't just about protecting immigrants—it's a tool for law enforcement. 'Individuals who commit crimes must be prosecuted, regardless of their victim's immigration status. To do so effectively, victims and key witnesses must feel safe reporting these crimes.' She added that the U visa has been vital in helping authorities go after offenders while offering protection to the most vulnerable, including women facing domestic violence and children subjected to rape and abuse. 'Misconceptions about U visas need correcting,' Holba wrote, 'so the programme can continue serving its purpose—making American society safer and more just.'
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Yahoo
Wife of embattled Louisiana police chief charged in immigration visa fraud scheme also arrested
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The wife of a Louisiana police chief, who earlier this week was charged for his alleged role in a mass immigration visa fraud scheme, has also been arrested, state police said Thursday. Alison Doyle, a former employee of the small city of Oakdale, has been charged with two counts of malfeasance in office. State police allege that Doyle conspired with local business owner Chandrakant 'Lala' Patel, who authorities say was a central figure in the visa fraud operation, to 'manipulate the bidding process' for two city owned properties. It is unclear if Doyle's alleged crime is at all related to the area's immigration visa fraud. However, Both Doyle's husband and Patel were among the five people arrested this week for their roles in a nearly decade-long plot that involved small-town police chiefs being paid $5,000 in exchange for filing false police reports that named hundreds of noncitizens as victims of armed robberies. The fabricated police reports would be sold to immigrants who would use them to apply for a special visa program that can give some crime victims and their families a pathway to U.S. citizenship. As a result of the sweeping federal investigation, Patel and Oakdale police Chief Chad Doyle were arrested, along with Forest Hill Police Chief Glynn Dixon, former Glenmora Police Chief Tebo Onishea and Michael 'Freck' Slaney, a marshal in Oakdale. Doyle and Slaney were appointed defense attorneys Thursday who did not immediately return messages from The Associated Press seeking comment. Patel told court officials he had retained counsel, but it was not clear from court records who would represent him. When asked about the extent of the fraud on Wednesday, U.S. Attorney Alexander Van Hook said that there were 'hundreds of names' specifically for visas that were approved. It remains unclear what, if anything, will happen to the migrants accused of obtaining the fraudulent visas. Prosecutors have declined to say whether they might face charges, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said only that the agency is 'committed to protecting the integrity of the immigration system from abuse and holding accountable those who exploit it.' The special visas, dubbed a U visa, are set aside for people who are victims of certain crimes and who 'are helpful to law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity,' based on a description of the program published by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. About 10,000 people got such visas in the 12-month period that ended Sept. 30, 2022, which was the most recent period for which the Homeland Security Department has published data. —- Mustian reported from New York.
