NORFOLK, Va. Former Virginia Beach Police officer Andrey Savelyev, age 41, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for conspiring to commit marriage fraud and lying to the FBI.
Savelyev was sentenced by United States District Judge Robert G. Doumar.
"Today, Andrey Savelyev was held accountable for abusing his authority as a police officer," said U.S. Attorney MacBride. "We appreciate the support and cooperation of the Virginia Beach Police Department, which worked closely with us as we investigated this case."
According to court records, Savelyev admitted he became aware that a female Russian national had entered into a fraudulent marriage with a Navy enlisted man in exchange for $6,000 and that the enlisted man later wished to obtain a divorce from the Russian female.
Savelyev was contacted by the Russian woman's friends and, as a result, Savelyev, while on duty, drove to the enlisted man's home, showed his badge, and threatened that if the enlisted man did not uphold his part of the conspiracy, then Savelyev would arrest him for assaulting a friend of the Russian female. The Navy enlisted man remained in the fraudulent marriage and was later convicted of federal immigration charges.
Savelyev admitted to unauthorized use of the Virginia Beach Police Department's computer database in an effort to obtain confidential information about the Navy enlisted man. Savelyev also admitted he lied when questioned by an FBI agent in May and June 2009 about his knowledge of marriage fraud between aliens and Navy personnel in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, when he denied any knowledge of the Russian woman and the Navy enlisted man whom he confronted and threatened to arrest.
Savelyev was sentenced by United States District Judge Robert G. Doumar.
"Today, Andrey Savelyev was held accountable for abusing his authority as a police officer," said U.S. Attorney MacBride. "We appreciate the support and cooperation of the Virginia Beach Police Department, which worked closely with us as we investigated this case."
According to court records, Savelyev admitted he became aware that a female Russian national had entered into a fraudulent marriage with a Navy enlisted man in exchange for $6,000 and that the enlisted man later wished to obtain a divorce from the Russian female.
Savelyev was contacted by the Russian woman's friends and, as a result, Savelyev, while on duty, drove to the enlisted man's home, showed his badge, and threatened that if the enlisted man did not uphold his part of the conspiracy, then Savelyev would arrest him for assaulting a friend of the Russian female. The Navy enlisted man remained in the fraudulent marriage and was later convicted of federal immigration charges.
Savelyev admitted to unauthorized use of the Virginia Beach Police Department's computer database in an effort to obtain confidential information about the Navy enlisted man. Savelyev also admitted he lied when questioned by an FBI agent in May and June 2009 about his knowledge of marriage fraud between aliens and Navy personnel in Norfolk and Virginia Beach, when he denied any knowledge of the Russian woman and the Navy enlisted man whom he confronted and threatened to arrest.
