Diplomatic Security Arrests Foreign Service Officer in Alleged Visa Fraud Conspiracy

Diplomatic Security Arrests Foreign Service Officer in Alleged Visa Fraud Conspiracy

A U.S. State Department employee who was stationed in Lithuania between 1999 and 2001 was arrested yesterday, April 4, on federal charges for allegedly conspiring to provide non-immigrant visas to nearly a dozen persons in exchange for cash bribes totaling more than $40,000 and a vintage motorcycle, officials of the Justice and State Departments announced today.

Matthew Christ, a State Department Foreign Service Officer, was among 10 defendants charged in a superseding indictment that was returned March 24 by a federal grand jury in Chicago and unsealed following his arrest. He was charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit fraud, eight counts of visa fraud, and one count of bribery in the 19-count indictment. Christ had his initial hearing at the Eastern District of Virginia Federal Courthouse today and was released on personal recognizance, ordered to relinquish all travel documents within 24 hours, and to report to the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago within 7 days. The indictment is the result of a 22-month investigation lead by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago with cooperation from Lithuanian law enforcement authorities.

According to the indictment, between August 1999 and July 2001, Christ was assigned as a political-economics officer at the U.S. Embassy in Vilnius. Christ allegedly conspired to fraudulently provide nonimmigrant visas and to deprive the State Department of Christ’s honest services. Christ and others allegedly charged individuals amounts ranging from $3,000 to $14,000 to acquire nonimmigrant visas to the United States. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of $42,500 and a vintage BMW motorcycle.

The co-conspirators allegedly obtained visas from Christ without the applicants having to appear in person at the American Embassy in Vilnius. The recipients then used the visas they fraudulently obtained to enter the United States, with most arriving through O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, according to the indictment.

Employees who commit visa malfeasance are a very small percentage of our work force. The overwhelming majority of State Department employees are dedicated public servants who work tirelessly to protect the visa process and serve the U.S. public interest.
Moreover, an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The U.S. Department of State's Bureaus of Diplomatic Security and Consular Affairs work collaboratively to detect, combat, and prevent fraud or other criminal activities that threaten the integrity of U.S. visas and passports.

Diplomatic Security is the worldwide law enforcement and security arm of the U.S. Department of State with special agents assigned to U.S. diplomatic missions overseas and field offices throughout the United States. Diplomatic Security special agents conduct passport and visa fraud investigations worldwide and are responsible for security at 285 U.S. diplomatic facilities around the world. SOURCE: state.gov

Contact: Darlene Kirk (571) 345-2507Cell:(703) 608-2851Email: kirkd3@state.gov
Special Agent Pete Kramer (312) 353-6163Email: kramerpm@state.gov 2005/379 Released on April 5, 2005 Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC April 5, 2005