A federal grand jury in the Western District of Louisiana has indicted five individuals, including law enforcement officers and a central Louisiana business owner, on charges of conspiracy and fraud. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook, Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Eric Delaune, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp, and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman.
The defendants include Chandrakant Patel, also known as "Lala," Chief of Police Chad Doyle from Oakdale, LA; Marshal Michael Slaney from the Ward 5 Marshal’s Office in Oakdale, LA; Chief of Police Glynn Dixon from Forest Hill, LA; and former Chief of Police Tebo Onishea from Glenmora, LA. They face multiple charges including conspiracy to commit visa fraud, bribery, mail fraud, and money laundering.
The indictment accuses the group of conspiring to commit visa fraud through false claims for nonimmigrant U-Visas between December 2015 and July 2025. It alleges they authored fraudulent police reports across central Louisiana parishes to enable individuals to apply for U-Visas under false pretenses.
According to the indictment, foreign nationals paid Patel significant sums to be falsely named as victims in these reports. In turn, Patel enlisted his co-defendants to provide necessary certifications for these applications.
Furthermore, it is alleged that Patel attempted to bribe an agent from the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office with $5,000 for a fraudulent report. Additional accusations state that Doyle, Slaney, Dixon, and Onishea submitted false statements on immigration forms during this scheme.
The defendants also face allegations related to mail fraud involving false documents sent through postal services. The indictment includes money laundering charges seeking forfeiture of various assets.
If convicted on all counts, the accused could face substantial prison time and fines. The case is being pursued under Operation Take Back America by Homeland Security Task Force with collaboration from multiple federal agencies.
Assistant United States Attorneys John W. Nickel and Danny Siefker are prosecuting the case. An indictment serves only as an accusation; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
