Thread: ICE attorney arrested for alleged immigrant bribes

LOS ANGELES - An attorney for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and his wife were arrested on suspicion of accepting thousands of dollars from both legal and illegal immigrants in exchange for immigration benefits, authorities said.

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ICE Assistant Chief Counsel Constantine Peter Kallas, 38, and wife Maria Kallas, 39, both of Alta Loma, were arrested Thursday at the San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino, where authorities believed they were accepting such a bribe, U.S. Attorney spokesman Thom Mrozek said in a statement.

A search warrant affidavit said the couple, using a pair of companies they had set up, filed false employment petitions with federal authorities for 45 illegal immigrants and two legal permanent residents.

"The egregious acts of corruption alleged in this case are extremely disturbing to those of us who have sworn to serve the United States," U.S. Attorney Thomas P. O'Brien said in a written statement. "As a law enforcement official, Mr. Kallas abused his position in the Department of Homeland Security simply to line his own pockets."

The search warrant affidavit said about $950,000 beyond Constantine Kallas' salary had been deposited in the pair's bank accounts since 2000.

The couple was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy, bribery, making false statements and making a false statement in an immigration application.

Attempts to reach an attorney for the couple early Friday morning were unsuccessful.

They were expected to make their first court appearance in a U.S. District Court in Santa Ana on Friday.

Kallas has worked for ICE since 1998, but had been on unpaid leave since January, 2007.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080627/ap_ ... corruption

You have to wonder just how much of this is really going on out there!

Exactly Sosad........

This is quite disheartening to think there are those out there, in trusted positions within ICE that are using it for gain. That is 47 people that should be sought out now and sent straight back to their homelands.

Same thing i was thinking , how much . But Notice has now been posted by the U.S Attorneys office . Were coming to get you ! Good Work and Happy hunting

The search warrant affidavit said about $950,000 beyond Constantine Kallas' salary had been deposited in the pair's bank accounts since 2000.

What an idiot! If found guilty, I hope this traitor loses everything he has ever worked for, goes to jail, and has to start over when he gets out flipping burgers an McDonalds! He should never see the inside of a courtroom again, unless he is there as a defendant.

I'm sick and tired of public officials in positions of power, who use that power to personally enrich themselves, while putting the rest of us at risk! It doesn't get much worse than that!

Sit in the pen.

The creep who rigged the trial sits still a U.S. Attorney.

Evil comes to America, and the two party evil money cult in Washington D.C. is the root cause of it all.

http://www.blowoutcongress.com

another why for the above

http://www.perotcharts.com

The clock ticks.

I tell you what exchange them for Ramos and Campean.

There is just corruption at every level. It's
disgusting.

Moving from General Discussion to News.

November 10, 2008

ICE Lawyer, Wife Indicted For Immigration Bribery

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement attorney and his wife have been indicted on more than 70 new counts in Los Angeles stemming from a scheme to adjust the immigration status of immigrants.

ICE Assistant Chief Counsel Constantine Kallas and wife Maria Kallas have pleaded not guilty to 75 counts, including conspiracy, acceptance of a bribe by a public official and money laundering.

The indictment says the couple used a pair of companies they had set up to file false employment petitions with federal authorities for dozens of illegal immigrants and some legal permanent residents in exchange for immigration benefits.

If convicted they face up to life in prison.

http://cbs2.com/local/ICE.Immigration.B ... 61260.html