Ray Kahn: The Betrayal of an Informant

Ray Khan was the most unlikely confidential informant in law enforcement history, yet he found himself a fugitive, running from the same government he had helped.

Ray Khan was born and raised in Gujarat, India, where his father was an officer with the Indian National Police. Wanting to follow in his footsteps, Ray took the entrance exam for the IPS three times but failed each time. So, he followed his wife to the US to chase the American dream. However, things did not work out and Ray ended up losing his wife and his legal immigration status. After moving to Georgia and buying his first convenience store, Ray unknowingly walked into an undercover ATF operation and purchased untaxed cigarettes.

Shortly after, he was arrested and scheduled for deportation. However, by becoming a confidential informant for ATF Special Agent Lou Valoze, Ray was able to avoid deportation and quickly worked off his charges.

Over the next six years, he would prove himself to be one of the most successful informants in ATF history. Valoze, recognizing Ray’s unique skills, used him in several undercover operations and Ray proved his worth by bringing hundreds of violent criminals who sold thousands of crime guns and hundreds of kilograms of narcotics to Valoze and his undercover team. Valoze and Ray would eventually develop a relationship that went beyond the usual agent and informant relationship. But, during the entire time he was working as an informant, he was being targeted by a corrupt, high-level officer with the Georgia Department of Revenue. After Ray and Valoze concluded one of the most successful undercover operations in history, Valoze’s career imploded, and Ray found himself in the crosshairs of numerous corrupt Georgia officials.

After being indicted on state RICO charges, Ray evaded the law and became a fugitive in New York City. Having learned many things while working with Valoze, Ray would eventually turn the tables on his corrupt pursuers.