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EVENT: Guilty Plea
Defendant: Roy M. Bailey
FORMER ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF U.S. IMMIGRATION PLEADS GUILTY
TO BRIBERY AND CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE UNITED STATES
Terrence Berg, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, announced today that the former Assistant Director of the Detroit office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) entered a plea of guilty to the charges of bribery, conspiracy to defraud the United States and misprision of felony.
Making the announcement along with U.S. Attorney Berg were Armando Lopez, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago, Illinois office of the Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General, and Andrew G. Arena, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit, Michigan office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The defendant, Roy M. Bailey, age 55, of Romulus, Michigan entered the guilty pleas in United States District Court before Judge Julian Able Cook, Jr. Under the plea agreement, Bailey faces up to 37 months imprisonment and a fine of up to $75,000.00.
The bribery conviction arose from Roy Bailey’s acceptance of gifts, free services and other things of value from an Oakland County immigration attorney named Namir Daman. In Return, Bailey misused his position as the INS Assistant District Director and, thereafter, as the Field Office Director of the Department Homeland Security - Immigration and Customs Enforcement to provide benefits and preferential treatment to a number of Daman’s clients, and to otherwise allow Daman to commit fraud against INS and DHS-ICE. In August of 2008, attorney Namir Daman entered a guilty plea in U.S. District Court to the felony offense of aiding and abetting immigration fraud. Daman is currently awaiting sentencing.
In addition, Roy Bailey was convicted by plea for the offense of conspiracy to defraud the United States. That conviction arose from Bailey’s involvement with TALAL KHALIL CHAHINE, the owner of the La Shish restaurant chain, and others, in a scheme by which foreign born La Shish employees obtained immigration benefits, including permanent resident status, through the use of false marriages arranged with U.S. citizens who also worked at La Shish.
Roy Bailey was also convicted of failing to report and refer to the proper authorities the theft of more than $300,000.00 in property from criminal aliens who were being housed at the INS/ICE detention facility in Monroe, Michigan.
In announcing the guilty pleas, Mr. Berg stated, “It is unacceptable for any public official to use his authority to enrich himself, particularly when doing so harms the very people he is supposed to be protecting. These convictions represent a critical step in restoring honesty and integrity to the system under which individuals seek and obtain immigration benefits and citizenship in this country. Mr. Bailey’s misuse of his position, and his willingness to corrupt that system, were an absolute betrayal of his office.”
Special Agent in Charge Arena stated, “"Public officials who abuse their position for personal gain undermines the people's trust and confidence in government. The FBI is committed to fighting public corruption at every level."
Acting Special Agent in Charge Lopez stated, “I am pleased with the out come of this investigation, because I feel that DHS employees should be held to a higher standard. This investigation shows that the OIG will continue to be committed to aggressively pursue all allegations of corruption in order to protect our borders and the integrity of DHS personnel, programs and operations.”
A sentencing hearing was set by Judge Cook for November 21, 2008 at 2 p.m.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Judge.
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