ALBANY, NEW YORK - On Nov. 14, 2013, a federal jury in Albany found YANG CHIA TIEN, a/k/a ANDREW TIEN, 62, of Queens, NY, guilty of three counts of bribery of a public official, announced United States Attorney Richard S. Hartunian, Homeland Security Investigations Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas DiNicola, and New York State Police Special Investigations Unit Major Thomas G. Marmion. Sentencing is scheduled for March 10, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. before Chief United States District Judge Gary L. Sharpe.
TIEN was convicted of paying a total of $51,000 to a federal immigration official with the corrupt intent to influence official acts, namely the granting of lawful permanent resident status to aliens. In reality, the recipient was an undercover law enforcement officer with Homeland Security Investigations. The payments took place on May 1, 2008, July 11, 2008, and October 8, 2008. The evidence at trial showed that TIEN made these payments in an effort to secure green cards for his “customers," illegal aliens from Malaysia and China.
For each count of conviction, TIEN faces a maximum term of imprisonment of fifteen years and a maximum fine of $250,000.
The prosecution resulted from a joint investigation by ICE-Homeland Security Investigations and the New York State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean O’Dowd.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
