Federal investigators have indicted several current and former law enforcement leaders in Louisiana, accusing them of participating in a paid scheme to bypass immigration laws.
The alleged scheme involves hundreds of visas. A businessman, three current law enforcement leaders and one former law enforcement leader were arrested this week.
FBI officials shared details of the 62-count indictment on visa fraud in a Wednesday morning press conference.
They alleged that law enforcement leaders worked with an Oakdale business owner to falsify police reports of armed robberies. The victims, who were immigrants, could then apply for a visas that would allow the victims or witnesses to stay in the U.S., FBI leaders said Wednesday.
Those indicted include:
- Chandrakant "Lala" Patel of Oakdale, one count conspiracy to commit visa fraud, one count bribery, 24 counts of mail fraud, eight counts of money laundering.
- Chad Doyle, Oakdale police chief, one count conspiracy to commit visa fraud, six counts visa fraud, six counts mail fraud, one count money laundering. Visa fraud (6 counts)
- Michael "Freck" Slaney, Oakdale city marshal, one count conspiracy to commit visa fraud, six counts visa fraud, six counts mail fraud, two counts money laundering.
- Glynn Dixon, Forest Hill police chief, one count conspiracy to commit visa fraud; six counts visa fraud, six counts mail fraud, one count money laundering.
- Tebo Onishea, former Glenmora police chief, conspiracy to commit visa fraud, six counts visa fraud, six counts mail fraud.
The press conference comes the day after reports of police chiefs being arrested across Louisiana. Doyle and Dixon were arrested while attending a law enforcement conference in Baton Rouge.
The cases involve u nonimmigrant status visas, commonly called U-Visas. The scheme allegedly started in December of 2015 and continued until at least this week.
Officials say that people wanting to obtain U-Visas would contact Patel or another unnamed person. These people allegedly paid Patel thousands of dollars. Patel would then contact law enforcement leaders, including Doyle, Slaney, Dixon and Onishea, to create false police reports that listed the person as a victim of an armed robbery.
Patel is also accused of giving a Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office agent $5,000 in February of 2025 in what FBI officials characterized as a bribe.