Senior ICE Attorney Guilty of Accepting Bribes from Immigrants

LOS ANGELES -- A senior attorney with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was found guilty Tuesday of three dozen corruption-related charges for taking a series of bribes from immigrants who were seeking documentation to remain in the United States.

Constantine Peter Kallas, 39, of Alta Loma, was found guilty of conspiracy, six counts of bribery, two counts of obstruction of justice, seven counts of fraud and misuse of entry documents, three counts of aggravated identity theft, nine counts of making false statements to the Department of Labor, four counts of making false statements to obtain federal employee compensation and four counts of tax evasion, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Kallas has been in prison since August 2008, about two months after he was arrested by FBI agents at the San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino in Highland.
Kallas and his wife accepted a bribe there from an immigrant, according to government prosecutors.

The attorney allegedly offered immigration benefits in exchange for payments of up to $20,000.

 

Source : KTLA.com

ICE Seizes $300,000 Cizeta V16 : Kaizo Related

ICE agents seized a 1994 Cizeta V16 from Family Classic Car in San Juan Capistrano on Monday. According to the article in the Orange County Register, Family Classic car was surprised at the seizure, as the car was left after a car show that took place on Friday.

 

ICE said the Italian car is one of fewer than a dozen such vehicles produced by automotive engineer Claudio Zampoli in a joint venture with music composer Giorgio Moroder.

According to a news release, ICE investigators allege that Orange County resident Zampoli violated U.S. customs and environmental laws when he brought the car into the country in 2001.

In the affidavit filed in support of the seizure, Zampoli’s import agent stated on customs documents when the car was imported that it was worth $125,000,  even though the car originally sold new for $600,000, ICE said.

ICE might have some wrong information according to Wikipedia. In 1991, the list price for a Cizeta-Moroder was an estimated €250,000 or US$300,000. Now the car is still in production (on demand), although again with a large price tag of $649,000, respectively $849,000 for the Spyder TTJ, exclusive of shipping, taxes and extras.

Family Classic Cars had a Kaizo R34 GT-R that they had registered and were offering for sale.  This seizure seems to possibly be related to the Kaizo investigation.

“Make no mistake, the illegal importation of gray market vehicles like this is not just a technical violation,” said Miguel Unzueta, special agent in charge for the ICE Office of Investigations in Los Angeles.  “Cars that don’t meet U.S. standards are outlawed for a reason.  These vehicles can pose a real threat to public health and safety.”

Cars are not “outlawed”.  In fact this vehicle would be eligible for a “Show or Display” exemption.  This car has probably been driven/started less than a year old Prius.  It poses no real threat to public health or safety. Most people that own this type of vehicle drive it very seldom, and it would put out less emissions than the fire you have burning in your fireplace.  I would be interested to know how many miles or kilometers this car has on it since 1994. Just another case of ICE flexing its muscles at something minor and frivolous, wasting money.

 

Source : Orange County Register

Update to ICE , DOT, EPA Investigation on Kaizo

I spoke to a person today that informed me that they had a call from ICE on their vehicle.  The ICE agent asked to come out and take photos of the vehicle.  The person that received the call asked if the car was going to be seized, and the ICE agent said that it was not going to be seized.  I advised him that he should speak to a lawyer before he allows anyone to come and investigate any of his property.

What I think that ICE wants to see is the body and the engine together.  They are still investigating Kaizo, and looking to see if they supplied engines and bodies together.  If anyone else gets any calls – please email me to tell me what was said.   tyndago@gmail.com .  I want to stay on top of this, and see where its going. 

All "public interest" legislation (and any distribution of money taken by force from some men for the unearned benefit of others) comes down ultimately to the grant of an undefined undefinable, non-objective, arbitrary power to some government officials. The worst aspect of it is not that such a power can be used dishonestly, but that it cannot be used honestly. The wisest man in the world, with the purest integrity, cannot find a criterion for the just, equitable, rational application of an unjust, inequitable, irrational principle.

-Ayn Rand

The law was made for one thing alone, for the exploitation of those who don't understand it, or are prevented by naked misery from obeying it.

-Bertolt Brecht

UPDATED : ICE , DOT - CARB Serving Search Warrants Today

I had a call earlier today that ICE , DOT, and CARB had been at RB today doing some investigating. The investigators looked at a couple of the ex-Motorex cars, called the DOT and ended up leaving from RB with only photos.

I called over to Kaizo to see what was happening over there, and I was informed that they were in the middle of it.

Vehicle Import Information Blog.

Some new information from an RX-7 forum. One poster says ICE had this to say

... ICE said that pretty much the skylines from kaizo are contra band. They are taking a snippet of the law from one part, and another snippet of law from another part. (regarding chassis and smog/manufacturer liabilities). He did say they are not far off from doing it completely legit though...

He asked if i knew anyone with a kaizo car, (dont worry i didnt rat you out :] ) but he said, that as long as you get your cali-smog expempt at the begining of each year, you are fine and there is nothing they can do against you.

He also said tht AZ and FL are the only states that dont give a crap about such things and thats why they are so popular to have cars registered there.

Three cars got seized, along with records, and computers from Kaizo. Included in the three cars seized was the actual hero car from Fast and Furious 4. We will have to see how this plays out over the coming weeks and months.

June 9th , no new updates yet, although I have had contact with a lot of people with concern over what will happen next. It is hard to say exactly what is going to happen. It will all depend on the attorneys office and what charges are brought up.

July 1st, still nothing new except the Kaizo website is down. I have not heard of anyone having any other issues yet, but I still get a few emails a week from people asking questions.

July 2nd , the inital investigation was to check out charges of smuggling and violations of the Clean Air Act. The government always goes after the Clean Air Act. Everything is still in a holding pattern until any actual charges are filed. I also found out besides the "buggy" car that was not impounded(it had a VW engine in it), the black R34 had no driveline in it.

EPA requirements.

July 10th , I read on Supra forums the following about vehicles registered in New Jersey.

FYI, if you are own a Skyline or any imported non US compliant car in NJ, NJ DMV is going through their database to do visual inspections and document inspection, NHTSA and EPA paperwork, if they are not provided they are suspending the registrations and titles.
How do I know? I have a friend who received the letter and spoke with DMV.

Source : Supraforums

B. (2) Engine not in Vehicle or Chassis

EPA regulates the entire vehicle, not individual parts, for cars, light trucks, and motorcycles. If an engine is not installed, and is to be used in a car, motorcycle, or light truck, it may be imported as an automotive part. No approval or Customs bond is required by EPA. Importers should be aware, however, that replacement of an engine in a U.S. version vehicle with an engine of a different type or model year which is not currently covered by an EPA certificate or will be covered by an EPA certificate prior to introduction into commerce may violate EPA regulations.

The EPA regulates only complete cars. It says it right there. They also say that without an engine a body is just a part.

Now heres some conflicting information, also on the EPA's website. This section under "kit car policy".

The production, sale and importation of automotive bodies alone (i.e., no chassis, engine or transmission) are not regulated by EPA since such units are not considered "motor vehicles" under the Clean Air Act. EPA form 3520-1 is not required for imported automotive bodies. A motor vehicle from which the engine has been removed is still a motor vehicle and is not considered a body.

So does the EPA even read their own regulations ? A little bit of conflict there. One section says no engine is just a body, and its legal to import. The other section says if it has no engine then its not a body. Do they even know their own rules and regulations ? Does the EPA even have a leg to stand on in court ?

No engine and no transmission is significant in accordance with DOT requirements.

A disassembled vehicle that is shipped without an engine and transmission is treated for importation purposes not as a motor vehicle, but instead as an assemblage of motor vehicle equipment items. Such an assemblage can lawfully be imported into the U.S., provided any equipment included in the assemblage that is subject to FMVSS, but was not originally manufactured to comply with that FMVSS or was not so certified by its original manufacturer, is removed from the assemblage prior to entry into the U.S. Equipment items that are subject to the FMVSS include tires, rims, brake hoses, brake fluid, seat belt assemblies, glazing materials, and lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.

That is direct from the DOT website. So as far as importing car parts, or a disassembled vehicle to the US, its legal as long as the parts aren't anything that is covered by FMVSS.

Some "How to Import Cars from Japan" Information . How to Import a Nissan Skyline .