Illegal aliens invokes illegal behavior

English: This is the image that the US DHS ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) put on the homepage of the websites it seized in Nov 2010. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Authorities have identified several dozen aliens who improperly received immigrations benefits, but that number is growing as the investigation continues.

An 18-count superseding indictment was returned Tuesday afternoon, it outlined a wide-ranging bribery and long-running immigration fraud scheme that included a former immigration officer, a Department of Homeland Security agent and in officer with the U. S. Citizen and Immigration Services.

The conspiracy was allegedly orchestrated by attorney Kwang Man "John" Lee , who paid bribes to his Hyannis $10,000 to several immigration officials to help secure immigration benefits for aliens he represented. 

Those indicted in the case are:

• USCIS Supervisory Officer Jesus Figueroa, 66, of Tujunga;
• former USCIS Officer Paul Lovingood, 71, of Newhall, who surrendered to federal authorities Wednesday morning;
• James Dominguez, a special agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), 46, of Ventura, who surrendered to federal authorities Wednesday morning;
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer Michael Anders, 53, of Torrance; and
• Mirei Hofmann, 38, of Los Angeles, a native of Japan, who allegedly paid Lee tens of thousands of dollars to secure a permanent resident card.

English: The headquarters of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The four current and former government officials named in Tuesday's indictment allegedly conducted a number of official acts to help Lee's clients obtain immigration benefits.  For example, the indictment specifically alleges that Figueroa, Dominguez and Lovingood added documents to, and removed documents from, immigration files (A-files) related to Lee's clients. In exchange for their official acts, Lee allegedly paid the officials with cash and expensive gifts – including at least three Thailand vacations for Dominguez, computers and television sets for Lovingood, and thousands of dollars in cash for Figueroa.

Lee allegedly paid bribes to public officials to secure admission stamps and lawful permanent residency status for aliens who paid fees ranging from a few hundred dollars to more than $50,000.  Lee paid bribes to government officials, with payments ranging from $50 to as much as $10,000 given to an officer with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

 Press Release