FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CRM

TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 1998                                                                                                                          (202) 514-2008

                                                                                                                                                                               TDD (202) 514-1888




INS AGENT PLEADS GUILTY IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA


	LOS ANGELES -- A special agent with the Immigration and
Naturalization Service pleaded guilty today to untruthfully
testifying during a criminal trial, making statements which
prompted the judge in that case to dismiss charges against a man
accused of conspriacy and bribery, the Department of Justice
announced.

	Jesse A. Avestro, 40, of San Diego, pleaded guilty to a
felony charge of making false declarations during court
proceedings.

	Avestro, who has been placed on unpaid leave by the INS,
worked in the agency's Employer Sanction Unit, which investigates
the employment of undocumented workers. After receiving
information about immigration violations being committed by a
Compton, California  company called Nationwide Distribution
Services, Avestro completed an INS complaint form (G-123) that
detailed alleged immigration offenses against Steven Moallem, the
owner of NDS. While Avestro was investigating the allegations,
Moallem allegedly offered a bribe to the special agent. The FBI
subsequently launched an investigation that later led to the
arrests of Moallem and three others.

	Moallem went to trial on conspiracy and bribery charges, and
Avestro repeatedly testified  that he had not prepared the G-123
form. As a result of his false testimony, US District Judge Terry
J. Hatter Jr. dismissed with prejudice the case against Moallem.




	Avestro pleaded guilty today before US District Judge
Richard A. Paez, who is scheduled to sentence the defendant on
August 10. At sentencing, Avestro faces a maximum penalty of five
years in federal prison. The INS has suspended Avestro
indefinitely without pay.

	Pursuant to an informal agreement with the government,
prosecutors intend to dismiss an obstruction of justice charge
against Avestro at the time of his sentencing.

	The US Attorney's Office in Los Angeles, which prosecuted
the Moallem case, was recused from Avestro's case, which was
prosecuted by lawyers with the Public Integrity Section of the
Criminal Division of the Department of Justice. Avestro's case
was investigated by the FBI.

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