LOS ANGELES
A federal jury on Friday found a former U.S. deportation officer guilty of illegally using his position to send his wife’s auto repair business hundreds of payments, according to officials.
Jacques Polzin, 40, of Norwalk, was found guilty of eight counts of conflict of interest.
According to evidence presented at a four-day trial, Polzin was formerly employed as a deportation officer at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
During his employment at ICE, Polzin served as a vehicle control officer, whose job was to facilitate service and repairs for ICE vehicles.
From at least November 2017 to September 2020, Polzin illegally sent service and parts orders from ICE to JNJ Auto Repair LLC, a Santa Fe Springs-based automotive repair company.
This company was registered to Polzin’s wife.
At all relevant times, Polzin had a financial interest in this company. He was involved in starting and funding the company, shared estimates from rivals with JNJ Auto so that it could undercut the price and win the ICE contract, and received payment from JNJ Auto.
In total, Polzin was involved in more than 250 transactions between ICE and JNJ Auto for ICE vehicles. Polzin performed these actions while hiding his connection to JNJ Auto.
U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright II scheduled a March 10 sentencing hearing. At that hearing, Polzin faces up to five years in federal prison for each count.
ICE Office of Professional Responsibility investigated this matter.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys K. Afia Bondero of the Major Frauds Section and Nisha Chandran of the Corporate and Securities Fraud Strike Force are prosecuting this case.