TALLAHASSEE, FL - Jean Therve, 29, of Haiti, was sentenced yesterday to thirty-three months in federal prison for attempting to bribe an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Deportation Officer to release him from federal detention where he was being held pending deportation to Haiti.
Therve was indicted last year on one count of bribery. At his trial last December, the government presented evidence that between November 29 and December 6, 2011, Therve offered a deportation officer, who was acting in an undercover capacity, $3,000 to release him. After a series of conversations, Therve arranged for a third party to wire $1,400.00 to the officer as an initial payment for his release.
Therve is subject to a deportation order that will be executed on the completion of his prison sentence
In announcing the sentence, Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, commended the work of the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility, which conducted the undercover investigation that led to Therve’s arrest and conviction.
Ms. Marsh added, “In this case, an attempt to pay a bribe to a deportation officer to release an individual from custody was thwarted by the quick action of ICE officers. Attempts to corrupt and provide things of value to public officials will be immediately investigated and prosecuted vigorously. Prosecution of public corruption, including attempts to bribe law enforcement and correctional officers, is a priority of this office and the Department of Justice."
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Herbert Lindsey.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
