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Story by TIM SULLIVAN
A business owner is facing up to 20 years in prison for paying bribes to a local CBP officer to help his business get CBP contracts. Christopher Cassity, who owns IVV Solutions of Maryland, has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
Federal prosecutors say for 3-1/2 years, Cassity provided kickbacks to a CBP security officer in Pharr who, in return, would pressure CBP contracting officials to award information security system contracts to businesses which the officer knew would subcontract with IVV Solutions.
Bribes to the CBP officer totaled close to a half-million dollars. While the 49-year-old Cassity is headed to prison, the status of the CBP officer is not clear.
