Homeland Security official convicted of taking bribe

A former federal employee who worked with immigration services has been convicted of conspiring to encourage immigrants to enter the country illegally and accepting a bribe.

Prosecutors say a federal jury found 54-year-old Hasmukh Patel of McDonough guilty Monday of taking actions to bring a foreign couple to this country with fraudulent work visas.

A witness testified he paid Patel, an immigration adjudicator with the Department of Homeland Security, $100,000 to bring his brother and sister-in-law into the U.S. Witnesses from the U.S. Consulate in Mumbai, India, testified Patel called the consulate to vouch for the visa application.

Patel faces up to 49 years in prison and a $1.175 million fine when he is sentenced June 23 by U.S. District Judge Clarence Cooper.