TpHCM Consular Employee Accused of Visa Fraud.

[Teacher Mark 53]

I feel sorry for those of you that are waiting for an interview, because this is only going to make an already bad situation much worse.

By Michael Doyle — McClatchy Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — A State Department official “received several million dollars in bribes” from Vietnamese residents seeking visas, according to newly public court documents.

In a previously undisclosed criminal complaint, Foreign Service officer Michael T. Sestak faces charges of conspiracy to commit visa fraud and bribery in an alleged scheme that investigators say spanned several countries. In some cases, investigators say, desperate Vietnamese paid up to $70,000 each for visas granting legal entry to the United States.

The “co-conspirators” advertised that the charge would be between $50,000 and $70,000 per visa but also that they’d sometimes charge less, State Department investigator Simon Dinits said in an affidavit. “They also encouraged recruiters to raise the price and keep the amount they charged over the established rate as their own commission,” the affidavit said.

Investigators say the alleged conspiracy occurred while Sestak was handling non-immigrant visas in the U.S. consulate in Ho Chi Minh City. Sestak served in the consulate until last September, when he left in preparation for active-duty service with the Navy. By then, investigators say, an informant had tipped them to the alleged visa scheme.

An attorney for Sestak didn’t offer comment Thursday.

Sestak, who turns 42 this year, was quietly arrested in Southern California about a week ago. Citing a “serious risk defendant will flee,” authorities secured a judge’s order to hold him without bail until he can be transferred back to Washington, where the complaint was originally filed under seal May 6.

Though it’s since been unsealed, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington declined Thursday to comment on the case until Sestak has been returned to the city. A State Department representative also declined to comment.

Dinits, a special agent with the department’s Diplomatic Security Service, spelled out the allegations against Sestak and five unnamed co-conspirators in a 28-page affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint. The allegations include a close accounting of how the Foreign Service officer, according to investigators, shifted ill-gotten gains across international borders.

“He ultimately moved the money out of Vietnam by using money launderers through offshore banks, primarily based in China, to a bank account in Thailand that he opened in May 2012,” Dinits said. “He then used the money to purchase real estate in Phuket and Bangkok, Thailand.”

Sestak joined the consulate staff in Ho Chi Minh City in August 2010 and served as the chief of the non-immigrant visa staff. It was a busy office and Sestak came to have a remarkably lenient record for granting visa applications, Dinits said.

From May 1, 2012, to Sept. 6, investigators say, the consulate received 31,386 non-immigrant visa applications and rejected 35.1 percent of them. During the same period, Sestak handled 5,489 visa applications and rejected only 8.2 percent of them, according to investigators.

Sestak’s reported visa rejection rate fell to 3.8 percent in August, shortly before he was to leave the office.

According to Dinits, one of Sestak’s alleged co-conspirators was the “general director of the Vietnam office of a multi-national company located in Vietnam.” The four others were friends or relatives of this individual. All live in Vietnam.

Dinits said one co-conspirator “reached out to people in Vietnam, and in the U.S.,” and would advertise that visas could be guaranteed, including for those who wouldn’t otherwise be likely candidates. Other co-conspirators would help prepare the applicant and Sestak would review the application, according to Dinits.

Last July, Dinits said, an informant advised consular officials that 50 to 70 people from one village in Vietnam had illegally paid for their visas. That prompted investigators to start tracing online visa applications using Internet Protocol addresses, the unique numbers used to find particular computers or servers on the Internet. The investigators reported tracing money transfers, including $150,000 allegedly sent to Sestak’s sister in Florida. They also snooped on email accounts

“This opportunity will only last for a few more months, and after that it’s over,” one alleged co-conspirator wrote in a July 5 email quoted by Dinits.

Email: mdoyle[at]mcclatchydc.com; Twitter: @MichaelDoyle10

http://www.kentucky.com/2013/05/23/2651 … rylink=cpy

[H93 55]

If they have the names of the people who bought these illegal visas, can they deport them all?

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

If they have the names of the people who bought these illegal visas, can they deport them all?

Yes and up to and including yanking citizenship.

I feel sorry for those of you that are waiting for an interview, because this is only going to make an already bad situation much worse.

By Michael Doyle — McClatchy Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — A State Department official “received several million dollars in bribes” from Vietnamese residents seeking visas, according to newly public court documents.

In a previously undisclosed criminal complaint, Foreign Service officer Michael T. Sestak faces charges of conspiracy to commit visa fraud and bribery in an alleged scheme that investigators say spanned several countries. In some cases, investigators say, desperate Vietnamese paid up to $70,000 each for visas granting legal entry to the United States.

The “co-conspirators” advertised that the charge would be between $50,000 and $70,000 per visa but also that they’d sometimes charge less, State Department investigator Simon Dinits said in an affidavit. “They also encouraged recruiters to raise the price and keep the amount they charged over the established rate as their own commission,” the affidavit said.

Investigators say the alleged conspiracy occurred while Sestak was handling non-immigrant visas in the U.S. consulate in Ho Chi Minh City. Sestak served in the consulate until last September, when he left in preparation for active-duty service with the Navy. By then, investigators say, an informant had tipped them to the alleged visa scheme.

An attorney for Sestak didn’t offer comment Thursday.

Sestak, who turns 42 this year, was quietly arrested in Southern California about a week ago. Citing a “serious risk defendant will flee,” authorities secured a judge’s order to hold him without bail until he can be transferred back to Washington, where the complaint was originally filed under seal May 6.

Though it’s since been unsealed, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington declined Thursday to comment on the case until Sestak has been returned to the city. A State Department representative also declined to comment.

Dinits, a special agent with the department’s Diplomatic Security Service, spelled out the allegations against Sestak and five unnamed co-conspirators in a 28-page affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint. The allegations include a close accounting of how the Foreign Service officer, according to investigators, shifted ill-gotten gains across international borders.

“He ultimately moved the money out of Vietnam by using money launderers through offshore banks, primarily based in China, to a bank account in Thailand that he opened in May 2012,” Dinits said. “He then used the money to purchase real estate in Phuket and Bangkok, Thailand.”

Sestak joined the consulate staff in Ho Chi Minh City in August 2010 and served as the chief of the non-immigrant visa staff. It was a busy office and Sestak came to have a remarkably lenient record for granting visa applications, Dinits said.

From May 1, 2012, to Sept. 6, investigators say, the consulate received 31,386 non-immigrant visa applications and rejected 35.1 percent of them. During the same period, Sestak handled 5,489 visa applications and rejected only 8.2 percent of them, according to investigators.

Sestak’s reported visa rejection rate fell to 3.8 percent in August, shortly before he was to leave the office.

According to Dinits, one of Sestak’s alleged co-conspirators was the “general director of the Vietnam office of a multi-national company located in Vietnam.” The four others were friends or relatives of this individual. All live in Vietnam.

Dinits said one co-conspirator “reached out to people in Vietnam, and in the U.S.,” and would advertise that visas could be guaranteed, including for those who wouldn’t otherwise be likely candidates. Other co-conspirators would help prepare the applicant and Sestak would review the application, according to Dinits.

Last July, Dinits said, an informant advised consular officials that 50 to 70 people from one village in Vietnam had illegally paid for their visas. That prompted investigators to start tracing online visa applications using Internet Protocol addresses, the unique numbers used to find particular computers or servers on the Internet. The investigators reported tracing money transfers, including $150,000 allegedly sent to Sestak’s sister in Florida. They also snooped on email accounts

“This opportunity will only last for a few more months, and after that it’s over,” one alleged co-conspirator wrote in a July 5 email quoted by Dinits.

Email: mdoyle[at]mcclatchydc.com; Twitter: @MichaelDoyle10

http://www.kentucky.com/2013/05/23/2651 … rylink=cpy

Sounds like data towards a quota system

[WeatherEmperor 21]

Horrible. Absolutely horrible. This is an insult to all the hard work those of us put in to do things the right way. I hope that all guilty parties get punished to the fullest extent of the law. Its because of a**holes like this that we have to go through so much to get visas . Shame on them!

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

Horrible. Absolutely horrible. This is an insult to all the hard work those of us put in to do things the right way. I hope that all guilty parties get punished to the fullest extent of the law. Its because of a**holes like this that we have to go through so much to get visas . Shame on them!

It is deplorable for sure but I disagree that it should be a cause for hardship on law abiders.

DOS/USCIS should hold themselves up professionally and be able to sift the wheat from the chaff.

[Darnell 8,478]

well, they were non-immigrant visas,

so at a minimum, b1 and/or b2 ..

the path to citizenship from a b1 or b2 is very limited, and usually involves a marriage.

Just saying.

It'd be cool if they find folk who were issued these visas, who came into the USA and never left. But that's another issue, altogther.

I'm very happy another US Consular Official outta HCMC got busted - it's a really stupid place and there were issues in the Immigrant Visa section, prior to this idiot in the non-immigrant visa section.

I feel sorry for those of you that are waiting for an interview, because this is only going to make an already bad situation much worse.

Why worse? Most folk here are chasing immigrant visas, and the douche in the article was head of the non-immigrant visa section. Two different units at the Consulate, one not affect the other.

[Dai. 7]

$70,000 for a non-immigrant visa to the US and $30,000 to find some random person to commit immigration fraud with and produce a fake marriage to obtain perminent residence status.

[robert&thuong 0]

My case CR1 rejected during this time period, because we did not have money. if it is the truth and it is a good time to file papers to the federal court. See what everyone thinks?

[MedRoni 161]

well, they were non-immigrant visas,

so at a minimum, b1 and/or b2 ..

the path to citizenship from a b1 or b2 is very limited, and usually involves a marriage.

Just saying.

It'd be cool if they find folk who were issued these visas, who came into the USA and never left. But that's another issue, altogther.

I'm very happy another US Consular Official outta HCMC got busted - it's a really stupid place and there were issues in the Immigrant Visa section, prior to this idiot in the non-immigrant visa section.

Why worse? Most folk here are chasing immigrant visas, and the douche in the article was head of the non-immigrant visa section. Two different units at the Consulate, one not affect the other.

For the kind of money they paid I am sure most if not all are still here with no intention of leaving. Who would pay $70,000 just for a visit?

You are right, it is another issue. Unfortunately there would be little chance of tracking them down at this point anyway.

[Teacher Mark 53]

I figure the visa rejection rate for every section will rise by at least 5 percent. Who knows, really? I do know a little about how things are in Vietnam, however, and I can assure you that regardless of the section everyone in that place is a bit nervous today. This could be the tip of the iceburg. I'd be very surprised if that's the sum of the corrupt employees there.

Edited May 27, 2013 by Teacher Mark

[fantonledzepp 159]

This is something.

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Sounds like data towards a quota system

I have always wondered with all the "for immigration benefits only" blanket refusals, returns and denials if there isn't a quota system in place

for certain countries that is "unspoken", that is cleverly hidden by the veil of non -transparency. Perhaps a fact that CO's are looked at being too

lenient when not following a certain percentage average. This "average" being designed to be adhered to.

I tend to believe there is and one day we will read about it.

There was another post with another dirty CO taking bribes, I do not recall the country right now.....I have to dig for the thread from long ago.

[Teacher Mark 53]

Here's a bedtime story that's hard to believe, but 100% true. After I went solo in 2009, started dating a beatiful and intelligent university student. We dated about 3 months before I approached my estranged wife and tried to get a divorce, so I could marry my girlfriend before she came to her senses. The visa ####### said no, of course, even though she wasn't told about my g/f and she was lving with some other poor sap. About a month later I sat down with my g/f and laid out 3 options, the last being we split up. She chose door 3 and I agreed. We remained friends and 3 months later she tells me thwt she's applying for a J visa to work in a restaurant in Maine. Cost = 5k. I tole her it would never happen. A single, beautiful Viet girl in on a J? No way. I was wrong. She worked in Maine for 3 months, then returned, met a guy from Finland, went there and stayed. I regret that I didn't return to America when she was there and circumvent the bs in HCM.

m

[Darnell 8,478]

tMark - apologies - I find none of what you've written in post #13, hard to believe at all.

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

Here's a bedtime story that's hard to believe, but 100% true. After I went solo in 2009, started dating a beatiful and intelligent university student. We dated about 3 months before I approached my estranged wife and tried to get a divorce, so I could marry my girlfriend before she came to her senses. The visa ####### said no, of course, even though she wasn't told about my g/f and she was lving with some other poor sap. About a month later I sat down with my g/f and laid out 3 options, the last being we split up. She chose door 3 and I agreed. We remained friends and 3 months later she tells me thwt she's applying for a J visa to work in a restaurant in Maine. Cost = 5k. I tole her it would never happen. A single, beautiful Viet girl in on a J? No way. I was wrong. She worked in Maine for 3 months, then returned, met a guy from Finland, went there and stayed. I regret that I didn't return to America when she was there and circumvent the bs in HCM.

m

Why do you need to approach your Ex for divorce? Why couldn't you have just filed?