Visa fraud: How did an Indian-origin businessman rope in US police chiefs to fake crimes?

An Indian-origin businessman, Chandrakant “Lala” Patel, and police chiefs from three cities in Louisiana, US, have been charged with visa fraud and conspiracy after allegedly creating fake crime reports to exploit a US visa programme meant for crime victims.

According to acting federal prosecutor Alexander Van Hook in Lafayette, a federal grand jury indicted Patel and the officials, including a city marshal, for submitting fraudulent armed robbery reports to support visa claims. Grand juries in the US legal system determine if there is a prima facie case to press charges.

Visa scheme exposed

The court papers revealed that Patel, who had earlier secured a crime victim visa himself, paid $5,000 to police officials for each individual he referred. These individuals, falsely listed as victims, were reported in fabricated crime cases to secure “U Visas” – a special category designed for victims assisting in investigations.

Documents list 25 individuals, all with the last name Patel and initials only, as supposed victims. Authorities alleged that none of them were actual victims of crimes, despite being documented as “cooperating victims”.

Involvement of police officials and arrests

The officials charged include Police Chiefs Glynn Dixon of Forest Hill, Tebo Onishea of Glenmora, Chad Doyle of Oakdale, and Oakdale Marshal Michael Slaney. In a related development, Doyle’s wife, Allison Doyle, was arrested on state-level corruption charges. However, she has not been charged federally.

Patel reportedly owned two retail stores and ran a fast food restaurant. Authorities have traced $230,000 in payments and property worth $51,000 connected to the fraudulent visa scheme.

Similar case in Massachusetts

In a separate but similar incident, two Indian-origin men – Rambhai Patel and Balwinder Singh – pleaded guilty in a Massachusetts federal court in May for staging at least nine fake armed robberies. These incidents, staged at liquor shops, restaurants, and other outlets across the US, were orchestrated so store owners or workers could falsely claim to be crime victims and obtain U Visas.

According to court documents, the “robbers” used firearms to threaten staff, stage a robbery while being recorded, and flee before the police were alerted. In one case, an individual paid $20,000 to Patel for the fake robbery.

Both Rambhai Patel and Balwinder Singh are currently awaiting sentencing