NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Alexandria, LA, June 30, 2026. — An Oakdale Subway franchise owner has pleaded guilty to his role in a years-long scheme that used fabricated police reports to help foreign nationals obtain U-Visas, federal prosecutors said.
Chandrakant Patel, 40, entered his guilty plea on May 29 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. He admitted guilt to one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud and one count of money laundering for his role in a scheme that prosecutors say operated from December 2015 through July 2025.
According to federal prosecutors, Patel collected thousands of dollars from foreign nationals seeking U-Visas—a form of immigration relief available to certain victims of qualifying crimes who assist law enforcement—and arranged for false police reports documenting armed robberies that never occurred.
Authorities said Patel paid law enforcement officers $5,000 for each fabricated police report, which was then used as supporting documentation for U-Visa applications. Prosecutors also alleged that Patel attempted to bribe a Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office agent with $5,000 in February 2025 to obtain another fraudulent report.
Patel was one of five defendants charged in the case. The others are former Forest Hills Police Chief Glynn Dixon, former Oakdale Police Chief Chad Doyle, former Oakdale Marshal Michael Slaney, and former Glenmora Police Chief Tebo Onishea. Prosecutors said the four law enforcement officials used their official positions to create or approve false reports while serving in office.
The defendants were indicted on July 2, 2025, following a federal investigation into what authorities described as a decade-long conspiracy to exploit the U-Visa program through fabricated crime reports and fraudulent official documents.
According to local reports, Patel was the only defendant involved in the federal investigation to have remained behind bars since these arrests because, according to authorities, he is considered a flight risk.
Patel, reportedly an Indian citizen, had applied for American citizenship and was on Advance Parole status before his arrest.
The U-Visa program was created by Congress in 2000 to provide temporary legal status to victims of certain serious crimes who have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse and who cooperate with law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of those crimes.
In announcing the guilty pleas, U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller said the scheme “endangered our community and undermined the public trust in the immigration system solely to line their own pockets.”
Under his plea agreement, Patel faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison—five years on the conspiracy count and 10 years on the money laundering count. He also agreed to forfeit multiple properties, bank accounts, gold bars, jewelry and other assets connected to the scheme.
The remaining defendants have also pleaded guilty in recent weeks. Glynn Dixon entered his guilty plea on June 4, while Chad Doyle, Michael Slaney and Tebo Onishea pleaded guilty in May. Sentencing dates have not yet been announced.
