PIO faces 49 years in US jail for bribe

An Indian American who earlier worked with immigration services has been convicted of conspiring to encourage immigrants to enter the country illegally and accepting a bribe, according to a report.

A federal jury Monday found 54-year-old Hasmukh Patel of McDonough in Georgia guilty of taking actions to bring an Indian couple to this country with fraudulent work visas, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported citing prosecutors.

Patel faces up to 49 years in prison and a $1.175 million fine when he is sentenced June 23 by US District Judge Clarence Cooper, the report said.

A witness testified he paid Patel, an immigration adjudicator with the Department of Homeland Security, $100,000 to bring his brother and sister-in-law into the US.

Witnesses from the US Consulate in Mumbai, India, testified Patel called the consulate to vouch for the visa application.