Press Releases
MAN PLEADS GUILTY IN FEDERAL COURT FOR CONSPIRACY TO BRIBE A PUBLIC OFFICIAL
April 2, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JHONA JAQUES VAZ, age 48, a resident of Senegal, pled guilty before U. S. District Judge Kurt Englehardt in federal court to conspiracy to bribe a public official, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten today.
The defendant faces a maximum of five years imprisonment, three (3) years supervised release following any term of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. JHONA JAQUES VAZ was indicted by a Federal Grand Jury in September, 2007 along with co-defendants, Louis Gomis, who previously pled guilty, and Bernard Gomis, whose trial is scheduled for April 21, 2008.
According to the Factual Basis, co-defendant Bernard Gomis was illegally found in the United States on May 9, 2007 and was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and ordered deported. In an attempt to secure Bernard Gomis’ release from ICE Custody, Louis Gomis, Bernard Gomis, and JHONA JAQUES VAZ conspired to bribe an ICE official, who was actually an undercover ICE agent. Louis Gomis was responsible for securing $7,000.00 which was used by JHONA JAQUES VAZ to pay a bribe to an undercover ICE agent with the hope of securing Bernard Gomis’ release.
This case was investigated by Special Agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Brian J. Capitelli.
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