Former L.A. immigration officer charged with taking bribes
Los Angeles, CA (BDCi) — A former supervising immigration officer charged with taking bribes to provide visas and other documents to illegal immigrants was found guilty Tuesday in federal court in Los Angeles, authorities said.
Fernando Jacobs, 72, who lives in Upland, was convicted on seven counts of conspiracy, bribery and honest services wire fraud, according to the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles. Jacobs was accused of taking $1,500 to help an illegal immigrant obtain permanent residency in the United States and providing fraudulent passport stamps to two others.
His son, Ontario resident Patrick Anthony Jacobs, 44, was convicted of six counts stemming from his efforts to conspire with his father to defraud United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, authorities said. The two were charged with enriching themselves by receiving payments in exchange for expediting immigration case files. They are scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 8, the U.S. attorney’s office said.
By Janete Weinstein
May 3, 2011