Onetime ICE Lawyer Gets 17 Years for Taking Bribes
A former assistant chief counsel for U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement has been sentenced to more than 17 years in prison for taking bribes to help immigrants fill out false paperwork to remain legally in this country.
Constantine Peter Kallas, 40, was sentenced today during a closed hearing in federal court in Los Angeles, reports the Associated Press.
Prosecutors had sought a record-breaking 30-year term, reports City News Service.
“Mr. Kallas was a corrupt government official who abused his position of trust to line his own pockets,” said U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte Jr., adding that the case “should serve as a warning” to other public officials tempted to take bribes.
Kallas was convicted in 2010 of 36 counts including bribery, conspiracy and fraud. His wife, Maria, 41, who pleaded guilty in 2009 to bribery, conspiracy and conspiracy to commit money laundering is to be sentenced in May.
Officials reportedly found a floor safe containing $177,000 in cash and dozens of official immigration files when they searched the couple’s home in 2008.
Earlier coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “ICE Senior Lawyer Arrested for Alleged Bribe-Taking”
