Five Louisiana Men Indicted on Charges of Visa Fraud and Mail Fraud

Strategic Insights -

A federal investigation initiated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) uncovered a large-scale scheme involving five Louisiana men, including four active and former law enforcement officers, who allegedly produced false police reports to enable aliens to apply for U visas. The scheme, which spanned over nine years, involved the defendants authoring and authenticating fake police reports of armed robberies in central Louisiana, claiming aliens were victims. The defendants, including law enforcement officials, stood to gain thousands of dollars from their corrupt activities.

Key Takeaways:

  • Five Louisiana men, including four active and former law enforcement officers, were indicted on charges of bribery, conspiracy to commit visa fraud, and mail fraud.
  • The defendants allegedly operated a nine-and-a-half-year scheme to produce false police reports of armed robberies, claiming aliens were victims.
  • The scheme involved authoring, facilitating, producing, and authenticating false police reports to enable aliens to apply for U visas.
  • Defendants stood to gain thousands of dollars from their corrupt activities.
  • The U visa program is intended to protect victims of crimes who are willing to help law enforcement authorities.
  • Eligible aliens must meet certain criteria to qualify for a U visa.
  • The investigation and prosecution are being led by a Homeland Security Task Force as part of Operation Take Back America.

Statistics:

  • 62-count indictment against the five defendants.
  • Over nine years of alleged involvement in the scheme.
  • Up to five years in prison on the conspiracy charge.
  • Up to 10 years on the visa fraud charges.
  • Up to 20 years on the mail fraud charge.
  • A fine of up to $250,000 on each count.
  • $5,000 bribe allegedly paid by Patel to an agent of the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office.
  • Thousands of dollars paid by aliens to participate in the scheme according to the indictment.

Sources:

  • United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).