Santo Domingo. – Meliton Corderosupervisor of the Dominican Republic office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)could face federal charges of conspiracy to commit bribery and visa fraudwhich could lead to a combined maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prisonaccording to United States federal law.
According to the Justice Department indictment, during his six years of service at the United States Embassy in the Dominican Republic, Cordero allegedly accepted thousands of dollars in exchange for helping foreigners obtain nonimmigrant visas. Furthermore, it would have processed at least 119 visa applicationsone of which would have been considered fraudulent.
Likewise, according to documented cases, the special agent would have delivered a passport and a visa for a foreign citizen to travel to the North American nation in exchange for money.
The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act prohibits U.S. citizens and entities from bribing foreign government officials to benefit your interests commercials.
In the legal framework of the United States, the prohibition is also established in the falsificationalteration or fraudulent manufacturing of certain immigration documents, as well as their use, possession or receipt.
The federal prosecutor Jeanine Pirro and the DEA administrator, Terrance Colehighlighted that the alleged actions of Cordero, who was arrested on Thursday in Washington DC, are unacceptable and do not reflect the professionalism of the institution.
“The alleged actions do not reflect the thousands of DEA professionals who serve honorably daily dismantling transnational criminal organizations and protecting national and international communities,” stated DEA Administrator Terrance Cole.
Behind him temporary closure from the DEA offices in the Dominican Republic, ordered by the United States ambassador, Leah Francis Camposthe entity began a relocation and reorganization process of its staff, as part of the internal review of complaints of alleged misconductwhich currently remain under investigation.
