Detroit immigration official indicted on bribery charges

The Detroit News reports:

A top immigration official in Detroit has been indicted by a federal grand jury for accepting tens of thousands of dollars in bribes to release aliens who were supposed to be deported and facilitate other immigration frauds.

Part of the scam involved a fraud whereby LaShish Restaurants employees were able to stay in the country through fraudulent marriages to other LaShish employees, according to federal officials and a grand jury indictment unsealed today.

Talal Chahine, owner of LaShish and already a fugitive on criminal tax charges believed to be living in Lebanon, is one of five defendants named in the indictment.

Roy M. Bailey, who was assistant director for the Immigration and Naturalization Service field office in Detroit and director for detention and removal operations, is charged with accepting bribes, conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit extortion by a public official, conspiracy to defraud the federal government, failing to report a felony.

"Our office considers this to be an outright selling of one's office," said U.S. Attorney Stephen Murphy. "These sorts of corruption matters are among the most serious that we take."

It was not clear how much in total bribes Bailey is accused of accepting, but it exceeds $50,000 in cash, home improvements, landscaping and casino chips.

Great moments in government.