Source: www.usdoj.gov\opa\pr\1996\July96\339ig.htm

TUESDAY, JULY 16, 1996

INSPECTOR GENERAL ANNOUNCES ARREST OF INS OFFICIAL IN ALIEN SMUGGLING RING

Michael R. Bromwich, Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Justice, today announced the arrest by Hong Kong authorities of Jerry Wolf Stuchiner, a 19 year employee of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and current Officer in Charge of INS interests in Honduras.

Stuchiner was arrested by the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) as he arrived in Hong Kong Monday evening, using a United States diplomatic passport and carrying 5 fraudulent Honduran passports. Also arrested was an El Salvadoran woman traveling with Stuchiner. They were arrested and detained under a Prevention of Bribery Ordinance and will be formally charged by the ICAC with passport related fraud later this week.

The arrests culminate a cooperative investigation conducted by the OIG and ICAC into allegations that Stuchiner facilitated the sale of fraudulent Honduran passports and visas to Chinese immigrant smugglers. According to Hong Kong authorities, Stuchiner was part of a scheme that involved Chinese citizens indenturing themselves to smugglers in return for passports, travel identities, and airline tickets to Central America where they would then be smuggled into the United States.

Hong Kong resident Dickson Yao was also arrested at the airport by the ICAC, and Honduran Consulate General Herby Weizenblut was briefly detained and questioned. Five additional Hong Kong residents were detained on Monday by the ICAC for their suspected involvement in the alien smuggling ring.

Mr. Bromwich stated that OIG agents were on hand at the Hong Kong airport when Stuchiner arrived and served as a liaison between the ICAC and Department of Justice. Mr. Bromwich commended the ICAC and the Immigration & Naturalization Service for their cooperation with the Office of Inspector General.

Press calls should be directed to Russ Bergeron, Immigration and Naturalization Service, at 514-2648.