A United States District Judge sentenced Chandrakant Patel, of Oakdale, to 120 months in federal prison for Conspiracy to Commit Visa Fraud and engaging in monetary transactions involving property derived from Unlawful Activity. Patel previously pled guilty to the charges in May 2026. Upon completion of his sentence, Patel will be removed from the United States.
Four other defendants were also sentenced for their roles in the visa fraud conspiracy.
In September 2026, Tebo Onishea, of Glenmora, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for Conspiracy to Commit Visa Fraud, followed by two years of supervised release. Onishea previously pled guilty to the charge on May 28, 2026.
On September 15, 2026, Chad Doyle, of Oakdale, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for Conspiracy to Commit Visa Fraud and ordered to pay a $30,000 fine, followed by two years of supervised release. Doyle previously pled guilty to the charge in May 2026.
On September 16, 2026, Michael Slaney, 65, of Oakdale, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for Conspiracy to Commit Visa Fraud and ordered to pay a $30,000 fine, followed by two years of supervised release. Slaney previously pled guilty to the charge on May 12, 2026.
Finally, in November 2026, Glynn Dixon, of Forest Hill, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for Conspiracy to Commit Visa Fraud and ordered to pay a $30,000 fine, followed by two years of supervised release. Dixon previously pled guilty to the charges on June 30, 2026.
According to court documents, the scheme occurred between about November of 2020 and July of 2025. Patel, then a local businessman, recruited foreign nationals who were seeking legal status in the United States and accepted payments to have them falsely identified as victims in fictitious armed robbery reports. Patel then paid Onishea, Doyle, Slaney, and Dixon—all public servants acting in leadership roles in their communities—to prepare false police reports and certify immigration documents used to support fraudulent U-Visa applications.