Former L.A. immigration officer took bribes, provided documents to illegal immigrants
 

Former L.A. immigration officer took bribes, provided documents to illegal immigrants
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.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lano...mmigrants.html

Jury convicts father, son in federal corruption case
Two men solicited bribes to help immigrants enter United States
LOS ANGELES - Two Inland Valley men were convicted of federal corruption charges Tuesday in connection with a scheme to solicit bribes from immigrants.
Fernando Jacobs, 72, of Upland was a supervisor with the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Jacobs and his son - 44-year-old Patrick Anthony Jacobs of Ontario - abused the elder Jacobs' position by soliciting bribes in exchange for circumventing official channels to assist immigrants.
According to a U.S. Department of Justice news release, Fernando Jacobs accepted a $1,500 bribe in exchange for helping an immigrant obtain permanent legal status.
In the course of their scheme, the Jacobs accepted bribes in exchange for passport stamps and green cards that authorized immigrants to travel to and from the United States.
After a two-week trial in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, Fernando Jacobs was convicted by a jury Tuesday of seven criminal counts, including conspiracy, bribery and honest services wire fraud.
His son was convicted of six counts, according to the news release.
The Jacobs are scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 8 by Judge George H. King.
Fernando Jacobs faces a prison sentence of up to 110 years, while his son faces up to 100 years, according to the news release.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/cali...nclick_check=1