Indictment of Police Chiefs in Louisiana for Visa Fraud Scheme

Several current and former police chiefs in Louisiana have been charged in a scheme involving false crime reports to qualify immigrants for U-visa status, allowing victims of crimes to stay in the United States. The suspects reportedly received substantial bribes—amounting to thousands of dollars per false report—to document fabricated crimes against immigrants, some of whom were from out of state or abroad.

The scheme, detailed during a press conference, involved creating fraudulent reports of armed robberies targeting non-Louisiana residents, which in reality never occurred. These reports were used to help immigrants obtain U-visas, opening a pathway to eventual citizenship. The government alleges that the accused were paid around $5,000 for each false report, with hundreds of names connected to the scheme.

The indictment, filed in Shreveport, includes conspiracy to commit visa fraud, bribery, mail fraud, and money laundering, covering 62 counts in total. Two of the arrested individuals are identified as former or current police chiefs—Oakdale Police Chief Chad Doyle and Forest Hill Police Chief Glynn Dixon—along with a former Glenmora police chief, a marshal, and a businessman involved in the scheme.

Authorities pointed out that the scheme led to a spike in reports of non-existent violent crimes against people not from Louisiana. Since the inception of the U-visa program, approximately 10,000 visas were granted in a one-year period, though concerns about abuse and fraud have persisted, especially after audits highlighted administrative shortcomings.

Louisiana hosts nine Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, with around 7,000 detainees, many of whom are awaiting deportation. As investigations continue, authorities have arrested two of the accused, and legal proceedings are underway against the others involved.