Two local men were sentenced to time in federal prison on Wednesday for engaging in a scheme to bribe an FBI Special Agent in White Plains.
Rizve “Caesar” Ahmed, a 36-year-old from Danbury, and New Fairfield resident Johannes Thaler, 51, attempted to “obtain confidential, internal law enforcement documents and information,” from the agent, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Ahmed was given 42 months in prison, while Thaler was given 30 by U.S. District Judge Vincent L. Briccetti.
Ahmed and Thaler both pled guilty to bribery and conspiracy to commit wire fraud in Oct. 2014.
Special Agent Robert Lustyik took payments from Ahmed, a Bangladesh native, in exchange for confidential FBI documents from Sept. 2011-March 2012, according to the Department of Justice. The documents had information about a “prominent” Bangladeshi citizen with opposing political views to Ahmed.
Thaler, Ahmed’s friend, exchanged texts with Lustyik about how to pressure Ahmed into paying more money for the information.
“We need to push [Ahmed] for this meeting and get that 40 gs quick,” one of the texts read, according to the D.O.J. “I will talk us into getting the cash … I will work my magic.”
Lustyik pled guilty to bribery, conspiracy and theft of government property charges in December. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 30.