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USCIS Officer Arrested in Miami for Accepting a Bribe
A shocking case of corruption has rocked the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in Miami, Florida. Jovany Perez, a 34-year-old USCIS officer, has been arrested and charged with accepting a bribe while in the performance of his official duties.
According to the allegations contained in the criminal complaint, Perez interviewed a female alien beneficiary in April 2017 and confronted her with his belief that her marriage was fraudulent. He then directed her to sign a written statement, purporting to be a confession by the beneficiary that she had committed marriage fraud.
However, things took a dark turn when Perez allegedly fondled the beneficiary’s breasts, asked her if she was wearing a wire, and exposed himself to her. The two agreed to meet again, and on May 9, 2017, Perez informed the beneficiary that he possessed her file and would remove the written statement and replace it with another that he would help her draft. In exchange for his assistance, the beneficiary agreed to pay Perez $2,000.00.
The two met again on May 17, 2017, and Perez accepted the bribe of $2,000.00. He was immediately arrested and is scheduled to be arraigned on June 1, 2017.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Michele Vigilance and Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Kahn Obenauf. Mr. Greenberg commends the investigative efforts of the DHS-OIG.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation, and Perez is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Perez, a resident of Miami, Florida, faces charges of receiving a bribe while a public official, a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
The exact date of the crime is April 20, 2017, and the arrest occurred on May 17, 2017, in Miami, Florida.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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