Feds charge 3 current or former Louisiana police chiefs in an alleged visa fraud scheme

Federal authorities have charged three current or former Louisiana police chiefs with taking bribes in exchange for filing false police reports that would allow noncitizens to seek a visa that lets certain crime victims stay in the U.S. U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook said at a news conference Wednesday that the forged police reports would indicate that the immigrant was a victim of a crime. He said the police officials were paid $5,000 for each name they provided falsified reports for, and that there were hundreds of names. Two other people, including a marshal and a businessman from the small city of Oakdale, are also charged in the alleged scheme.