SANTA ANA, Calif. (CN) - An immigration officer took thousands of dollars of bribes - and 200 egg rolls - from people seeking immigration benefits, federal prosecutors said.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer Mai Nhu Nguyen, 47, of Irvine is charged with three counts of soliciting and taking a bribe, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement Wednesday.
Nguyen was arrested on June 6 after taking a $2,200 bribe from an immigrant seeking citizenship, prosecutors said in the statement.
"In addition to the bribe earlier this month, the indictment alleges that Nguyen solicited and took bribes from immigrants in 2011. In one case, Nguyen is accused of taking $1,000 from an immigrant seeking a 'Green Card' and 200 egg rolls from an immigrant seeking citizenship," the U.S. attorney said in the statement.
Nguyen, who worked at the USCIS office in Santa Ana for 8 years, had the power to approve or deny applications for immigration benefits.
She will be arraigned on July 1. Each count of bribery by a public official is punishable by up to 15 years in federal prison.
Nguyen is free on $20,000 bond.
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