Federal Immigration Agent, Birmingham Attorney Accused in Bribery Scheme

DETROIT, MI — A special agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations and a Birmingham attorney have been charged with bribery, conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruction of justice, U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade said Thursday.

Clifton Divers, 48, of Detroit, was charged with misusing his position with ICE to obtain numerous deferrals of deportation and other immigration benefits for non-citizen foreign nationals in return for over $5,000 in cash payments, free legal services and other things of value, according to charging documents unsealed Thursday.

He’s also charged with conspiring to impair, obstruct and defeat the lawful function of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security by dishonest means. In addition, the Justice Department said in a news release, Divers is charged with destruction and falsification of records to obstruct an official investigation by the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The crimes are alleged to have occurred between 2009 and 2015. The six charged crimes carry maximum penalties of between five and 20 years.

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Attorney Charles T. Busse, 58, who lives in Birmingham and maintains law offices in Rochester Hills and Dearborn,was charged with paying bribes to a special agent with ICE – Homeland Security Investigations to obtain numerous deferrals of deportation and other immigration benefits for his clients.

Busse was also charged with conspiring to impair, obstruct and defeat the lawful function of the Department of Homeland Security by dishonest means. In addition, Busse was charged with criminal tax evasion and with violating the federal law that requires an attorney to report any cash payments of more than $10,000. The crimes are alleged to have occurred between 2009 and 2015. The four charged crimes carry maximum penalties of between five and 15 years.

“Anyone who abuses a federal law enforcement position for personal profit can expect to face serious penalties, including criminal prosecution,” McQuade said in the news release.

Giovanni Tiano, special agent in charge of the Detroit office of the Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General, said corrupt acts such as those alleged in the two cases “represent a threat to our national security” and that his office “is committed to doing everything possible to eradicate those who choose to place our country at risk.”

“The public should be reassured that individuals who profit from corrupting the integrity of our immigration and taxation systems will be held accountable,” Manny Muriel, special agent in charge of the Detroit office of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, added. “For years, criminals have tried to outsmart law enforcement by devising numerous schemes and methods to conceal their illegal activities. Tax cheats should know they cannot evade their tax reporting obligations without consequences.”

DIVERS - Filed First Superseding Indictment by Beth Dalbey on Scribd

SEALED Busse Information by Beth Dalbey on Scribd

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