Diplomat faces visa bribe charge

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Diplomat faces visa bribe charge

By MATT APUZZO, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 56 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - A veteran U.S. diplomat will spend the weekend in jail on charges he traded work visas for lavish dinners, New York City hotel rooms, jewelry and Las Vegas trips with exotic dancers.

Michael John O'Keefe, the deputy nonimmigrant visa chief at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto, was indicted on bribery and conspiracy charges Friday. International jewelry executive Sunil Agrawal, a native of India, also was charged but remains at large.

Since the terrorist attacks of 2001, authorities have worked to tighten controls over nonimmigrant visas like those granted to students, tourists and workers. Friday's indictment, however, describes a scheme in which O'Keefe fast-tracked applications for Agrawal's company, New York-based STS Jewels.

O'Keefe personally handled STS applications, going so far as to approve some that had been rejected, even when a subordinate noted that terrorists use jewelry to raise money, the indictment says. O'Keefe awarded 21 visas to STS employees, according to the indictment.

In exchange, Agrawal allegedly lavished him with gifts.

On Jan. 4, 2004, in the weeks leading up to one visa application, Agrawal allegedly wrote O'Keefe an e-mail that said, "Your hotel booking is confirmed in Hilton Millennium in Midtown Manhattan. Two rooms are booked in your name. The car service will be there at the airport to take you to the hotel."

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060825/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/visa_bribery