A Bergen County man was charged today with offering a bribe to an employee of the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito, announced.
Officials said Luis Santos, 27, of Teaneck, New Jersey, was arrested this morning and charged by complaint with one count of bribery of a public official. Santos is scheduled to appear this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III in Newark federal court.
According to the complaint: Santos offered to pay a United States Consular Adjudicator approximately $2,500 to favorably handle and review non-immigrant visas, which allowed individuals from the Dominican Republic to apply for entry into the United States.
According to authorities, Santos faces a maximum potential penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.