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T h u r s d ay, J u ly 17, 2025
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Federal investigation zeroes in on visa scheme
Several La. police chiefs accused in probe of fake crimes
LIVINGSTON PARISH
Board removes library director Four members resign after voting against firing
BY CLAIRE GRUNEWALD
Staff writer
STAFF PHOTO By BRAD BOWIE
Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Eric Delaune speaks during a news conference Wednesday in Lafayette announcing the indictment of five individuals, including law enforcement officers, on fraud and conspiracy charges. BY ASHLEY WHITE
Staff writer
Since 2015, hundreds of non-U.S. citizens in Rapides and Allen parishes have applied for special visas claiming they were the victim of or witness to a crime. In virtually every incident, they were listed on police reports as victims of armed robberies. If approved, they could stay in the country legally for at least four years to help law enforcement investigate and prosecute. Except the crimes never happened, according to federal investigators. Instead, they claim foreign nationals,
most of whom were from India, paid Oakdale business owner Chandrakant “Lala” Patel thousands of dollars to help them obtain a visa. Patel would then pay $5,000 to a law enforcement agent to forge a police report listing the applicant as a victim that could be included with a visa application. Patel Federal investigators claim Oakdale Police Chief Chad Doyle, Forest Hill Police Chief Glynn Dixon, former Glenmora Police Chief Tebo Onishea and Oakdale Ward 5 Marshal Michael
“Freck” Slaney worked with Patel to create the false documents. Hundreds of visas were granted through the scheme, federal investigators allege. Patel, Doyle, Dixon, Onishea and Slaney all were arrested Tuesday in a sweeping operation that involved about 200 officers from various agencies in multiple locations on charges including visa fraud, mail fraud, bribery and money laundering. “I’ve worked in federal law enforcement for almost 27 years. I’ve never seen
ä See VISA, page 5A
After a year of political turmoil over Livingston Parish libraries seemed to have faded, the system’s director was ousted at the parish president’s direction at a late-night meeting that also resulted in the Livingston Parish Library Board of Control’s leadership quitting. Parish President Randy Delatte proposed the removal about 10 p.m. Tuesday to a small crowd at the board’s latest meeting. The board approved his proposal in a 6-4 vote. This came after a nearly two-hour private annual performance evaluation of Michelle Parrish, the library director. Delatte said issues still exist between the library and the community, such as recent contentious split board votes, despite his recent shake-up of the Library Board. “The only constant that we have is Michelle. We still have the same issues,” he said. Parrish took the helm in 2023 after her predecessor, Giovanni Tairov, unexpectedly resigned after months of commotion surrounding content restrictions for minors. He had served as director for more than 10 years. In the immediate wake of his departure, the assistant director resigned, leading Parrish, then a branch manager, to step up. Parrish’s removal on Tuesday came as a shock to some residents and board members. Hours earlier,
ä See LIBRARY, page 5A
Trump lashes out over Epstein files ä Justice Department fires President calls his “Hoax.” “Their new SCAM is what we will prosecutor on Epstein case and call the Jeffrey Epstein daughter of ex-FBI director. supporters ‘weaklings’ forever Hoax, and my PAST supporters BY JILL COLVIN Associated Press
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By EVAN VUCCI
President Donald Trump leaves the East Room of the White House after a signing ceremony on Wednesday.
WEATHER HIGH 89 LOW 77 PAGE 6B
NEW YORK — President Donald Trump is lashing out at his own supporters, accusing them of being duped by Democrats, as he tries to clamp down on criticism over his administration’s handling of much-hyped records in the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation, which Trump now calls a
have bought into this “bull****,” hook, line, and sinker,” Trump wrote Wednesday on his Truth Social site, using an expletive in his post. “They haven’t learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years. “Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don’t even think about talking of our incredible and unprec-
Business ......................6A Commentary ................5B Nation-World ................2A Classified .....................6D Deaths .........................3B Opinion ........................4B Comics-Puzzles .....3D-5D Living............................1D Sports ..........................1C
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edented success, because I don’t want their support anymore! Thank you for your attention to this matter.” The rhetoric marks a dramatic escalation for the Republican president, who has broken with some of his most loyal backers on
ä See TRUMP, page 4A
101ST yEAR, NO. 17
CELEBRATING JAGUAR ATHLETES WHO SET THE STANDARD, EXCELLENCE!
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