SoCal U.S. Immigration Services Supervisor And His Son Convicted of Fraud, Bribery

Liberte, egalite, bribery.

A father who worked for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and his adult son, faced the possibility of a century behind bars after the pair profited from immigrants and travelers who wanted to come to the country. In one case the cost of legalization was $1,500.

Not a good deal for the Southern California duo of Fernando Jacobs, 72, and Patrick Anthony Jacobs, 44, if you ask us.

The two were convicted of conspiracy, bribery and "honest services wire fraud," according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in L.A.

Federal prosecutor said Fernando Jacobs took $1,500 from an immigrant who sought (and got) permanent residency.

According to a statement from the feds, the duo also got passport stamps for Mexicans who wanted to travel to the U.S. (you know, without getting wet. We kid!). The duo ...

... engaged in a scheme to defraud USCIS of Fernando Jacobs' honest services. The scheme involved the pair using Fernando Jacobs' authority and official position to enrich themselves by receiving payments in return for expediting immigration case files, obtaining and providing immigration information from Department of Homeland Security immigration databases, and obtaining and providing I-551 stamps that authorize aliens to travel to and from the United States. As part of the scheme, Fernando Jacobs fraudulently procured passport stamps for two Mexican nationals that allowed them to travel to and from the United States.

Fernando, a resident of Upland, is looking at the possibility of 110 years behind bars. Patrick Anthony, a resident of Ontario, could see 100 years. They're both due to be sentenced Aug. 8.

[An earlier version of this post erroneously reported that both father and son worked for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services].