NEW ORLEANS – Four current and former Louisiana law enforcement officials, including two active police chiefs, have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiring to fraudulently secure U.S. visas for immigrants by fabricating police reports, the Department of Justice announced this week.

The indictment unsealed in the Eastern District of Louisiana alleges a widespread scheme that undermined a federal program designed to protect victims of crime. Charged in the conspiracy are Golden Meadow Police Chief Dallas J. Toups Jr., Gretna Police Chief Arthur S. Lawson Jr., former Tangipahoa Parish Chief of Police Kimmy L. Maniscalco, and Port Barre City Marshal Clay M. Higgins Sr.

The officials are accused of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making false statements to federal authorities. Prosecutors allege they created and signed fraudulent documents to help immigrants obtain "U visas," a special category of nonimmigrant visa intended for crime victims who have provided substantial assistance to law enforcement.

The Alleged "Visas for Sale" Scheme

According to the indictment, the four law enforcement officers worked in concert with an unnamed immigration attorney to carry out the fraud. The scheme allegedly involved immigrants paying thousands of dollars to the attorney, who would then contact the officials to generate the necessary paperwork.

Prosecutors claim the officers would create falsified police reports depicting the immigrants as victims of qualifying crimes, such as robbery or extortion, even when no such crimes had occurred. They would then sign Law Enforcement Certifications (Form I-918, Supplement B), falsely attesting that the visa applicants were crime victims who were helpful in an investigation. These fraudulent documents were then submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as part of the U visa application.

"The indictment alleges that these public officials betrayed the trust of the citizens they swore to protect by selling their badges and their offices," said U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans in a statement. "The U visa program was created to protect victims of crime, not to be a vehicle for the personal enrichment of corrupt officials."

Understanding the U Visa Program

The U nonimmigrant visa, or U visa, was established by Congress in 2000 with the passage of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act. Its purpose is twofold: to aid law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting serious crimes, and to offer protection to vulnerable individuals who might otherwise fear deportation if they reported a crime.

To qualify, an applicant must have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse as a result of a qualifying criminal activity and possess information concerning that activity. Crucially, a law enforcement official must certify that the applicant "has been helpful, is being helpful, or is likely to be helpful" in the investigation or prosecution of the crime. The alleged actions of the indicted officials strike at the heart of this certification requirement, potentially jeopardizing the integrity of the entire program.

Charges and Potential Consequences

The indictment charges each of the four defendants with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. They also face multiple counts of making false statements, with each count carrying a maximum penalty of five years.

The case highlights a significant breach of public trust, where positions of authority were allegedly leveraged for personal gain, exploiting an immigration system designed to provide a lifeline to the vulnerable. The investigation was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General and the FBI.

As of this report, the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The case will now proceed through the federal court system, where the evidence against the four officials will be presented. The outcome could have lasting implications for law enforcement accountability and the administration of federal immigration programs in the region.