Ex-ICE Agent Gets 3 Years In Bribery Scheme

DETROIT, MI – An ex-Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent will spend 36 months in prison after pleading guilty to bribery and conspiracy charges. Authorities say that the ex-agent, Clifton Divers, 49, of Detroit, conspired with attorney and former Warren City Councilman Charles Busse.

“No one is above the law, particularly law enforcement officers in whom we place our trust to maintain the highest standards of honesty, integrity, and professionalism," said U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider. "The citizens of Michigan have the right to expect nothing less.”

Divers pleaded guilty in January to the charges in U.S. Court in Detroit. He had been arrested and charged in October 2016 with misusing his position as an ICE agent 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 court records.

“Anyone who misuses a federal law enforcement position for personal profit should anticipate to be the subject of an FBI investigation in an effort to protect the critical work being done for all Americans,” said Timothy R. Slater, Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Division of the FBI.

Meanwhile, Busse was charged with paying the bribes to Divers for the benefit of his legal clients. Busse had law offices in Rochester Hills and Dearborn. He was also charged with conspiring to impair, obstruct and defeat the lawful function of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security by dishonest means, as well tax evasion and failing to report payments of more than $10,000. In November 2016 he pleaded guilty to the charges.

Busse pleaded guilty in May 2017 and was sentenced to 37 months in prison.

Image via Shutterstock