33 Charged in Alleged Plot to Bilk Illegal Immigrants

Thirty-three people, including a lawyer and seven employees of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, were charged Thursday with conspiracy and bribery for allegedly providing unauthorized green cards and travel documents to illegal immigrants.

The charges grew out of a yearlong investigation by the FBI, the Justice Department’s office of the inspector general and the U.S. attorney’s office. The indictment alleges a trail of corruption leading to INS employees who are responsible for interviewing immigrants seeking residence.

“The crime allegedly committed by these few employees of the Immigration and Naturalization Service are particularly troubling because their actions taint the rest of the federal work force, which is loyal, dedicated and hard-working,” Lewis Schiliro, assistant director of the New York office of the FBI, said at a news conference.

The indictment charges that INS employees accepted cash bribes ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 in exchange for approving green card applications irrespective of whether the applicants were qualified. An immigrant can apply for a green card only if he or she is married to a U.S. citizen, is a religious worker or has a relative who is a citizen.

In addition, authorities alleged that some of the INS employees arranged fraudulent marriages so that immigrant applications could be approved. Other defendants acted as brokers, the indictment said, directing immigrants to the INS employees who would give them unauthorized green cards.

The indictment charged New York attorney Francois Au with paying a bribe.

If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of five to 15 years and a $250,000 fine on each count.