N O L A.C O M
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T h u r s d ay, J u ly 17, 2025
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Archdiocese settlement plan filed Joint proposal seeks to resolve bankruptcy BY STEPHANIE RIEGEL Staff writer
The Archdiocese of New Orleans and a committee that represents hundreds of clergy sex abuse survivors have filed a joint settlement plan, detailing how the local Roman Catholic Church hopes to
resolve its 5-year-old bankruptcy case. An outline of the agreement was announced in May. The 250page document that was filed late Tuesday provides details on the agreement that calls for the archdiocese, its 110 parishes and affiliated charities, and three of its four
insurers to pay $179.2 million into a trust to benefit survivors. The money would be distributed after the church emerges from bankruptcy. Additional settlement funds would come from the sale of Christopher Homes, a portfolio of church-owned apartment complexes for low-income seniors.
The plan estimates the property sale could contribute between $31 million and $56 million in additional money to the trust. The trust would be distributed among 660 survivors who have filed claims in the case. The plan notes that some of those claims, which will be evaluated later by an independent administrator, may not be allowed. If the funds were distributed evenly among all the claims filed to date, each claim-
Feds zero in on visa scheme
Several La. police chiefs accused in probe of fake crimes
ant would stand to receive around $270,000. The plan also lays out new policies, including child protection measures and a survivor’s bill of rights, to guard against future sex abuse by local priests, deacons and other church employees. Filed with the plan is another lengthy document that will play a key role in the outcome of the case
ä See SETTLEMENT, page 4A
Critical S&WB project not ready
Construction manager warned of delays BY BEN MYERS Staff writer
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 anything quite like this,” said acting U.S. Attorney of the Western District of Louisiana Alexander Van Hook. “We brought these allegations against who we allege to be corrupt officials. We are not alleging that these are corrupt police departments.” The 21-page indictment handed down by a federal grand jury on July 2 lays out 62 total counts against the four defendants.
As a low-pressure system threatens to deluge the city Thursday, a critical flood-protection project the Sewerage & Water Board has said for years would be ready for hurricane season is still not operational. The agency announced last week that its new multimilliondollar power complex, designed to provide reliable electricity to the city’s drainage pumps, would be delayed until next month, and likely not be completely working until October. While residents only just learned of the revised timeline, Jacobs Engineering, the construction manager on the project, warned in a January report that important pieces of the project were “severely behind schedule” and wouldn’t be ready until this fall or possibly the end of the year. The report detailed serious contractor errors, including “significant deficiencies” in quality inspections on underground components that could have warranted a stop-work order. Instead of stopping the work, Jacobs said it started conducting its own daily inspections and spent significant time resolving issues. Board officials declined Wednesday to answer questions about the alleged problems and the subsequent delays. The report, obtained through a public records request, was written to justify a $3 million contract
ä See VISA, page 4A
ä See PROJECT, page 5A
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. 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 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
Trump lashes out over Epstein files
call the Jeffrey Epstein ä Justice Department fires President calls his forever Hoax, and my PAST supporters prosecutor on Epstein case and supporters ‘weaklings’ have bought into this “bull****,” daughter of ex-FBI director.
BY JILL COLVIN Associated Press
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 invesASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By EVAN VUCCI tigation, which Trump now calls a President Donald Trump leaves the East Room of the White House after a “Hoax.” signing ceremony on Wednesday. “Their new SCAM is what we will
WEATHER HIGH 84 LOW 78 PAGE 8B
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 unprecedented success, because I don’t want their support anymore! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
Business ......................6A Commentary ................7B Nation-World................2A Classified .....................7D Deaths .........................3B Opinion ........................6B Comics-Puzzles .....3D-6D Living............................1D Sports ..........................1C
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The rhetoric marks a dramatic escalation for the Republican president, who has broken with some of his most loyal backers on issues in the past, but never with such fervor. Though Trump cannot run for another term, he will need strong support from a united party to pass his remaining legislative agenda in a narrowly divided Congress and
ä See TRUMP, page 5A
12TH yEAR, NO. 339