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Son of Guatemala's Ex-Tax Chief Detained

By LAURA WIDES
The Associated Press
Wednesday, October 19, 2005; 8:19 PM

LOS ANGELES -- A man accused along with his formerly high-ranking father of embezzling millions of dollars from the Guatemala government has been detained in California for entering the country illegally, officials said Wednesday.

A tip led Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to Junior Vinicio Abadio Carrillo, 32, in Glendale on Tuesday. He has been living there since he entered the country last year, officials said.


"We're seeking to return him to Guatemala because of his immigration violation," said ICE spokeswoman Virginia Kice.

Abadio Carrillo is accused of helping his father, Marco Tulio Abadio Molina, Guatemala's former tax chief, embezzle nearly $8 million from the Central American country.

Guatemala's federal anti-corruption prosecutor, Celvin Galindo, said he expects Abadio Carrillo to be tried there. "This is a case of great impact in Guatemala," Galindo said.

If convicted of the embezzlement and money laundering charges, Abadio Carrillo could face as many as 24 years in prison, Galindo said.

He was being held without bond by ICE, pending a hearing before an immigration judge.

His father has been held in a Guatemalan jail since last year. He is among a number of former high-ranking officials in that country facing corruption charges, including ex-president Alfonso Portillo, whose term ended in January 2004 and now lives in Mexico.