Mann allegedly altered a law enforcement database and provided false immigration and travel documents showing that the restaurant workers and their spouses had just entered the United States and were eligible to legally stay in the country for another year. Rogerio Charu, part owner and general manager of the former restaurants in Chicago, Downers Grove and Schaumburg, was also charged with Mann.

Mann, of Munster, Ind., is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez of the Northern District of Illinois. Mann was charged with conspiracy, bribery, and immigration fraud in a seven-count indictment that was unsealed last week and returned by a federal grand jury on May 20. Charu, whose last known residence was in Downers Grove, is currently believed to be in Brazil. He was charged with conspiracy, and aiding and abetting the remaining six counts against Mann.

The indictment also seeks forfeiture of $52,000 from Mann, representing the alleged bribes he received from the restaurant employees. The indictment alleges that when Mann accepted the money in the spring of 2005, the employees and their spouses either already were required to leave the U.S. or soon would be required to do so.

"Public employees serve the public and not themselves. This is especially true for those law enforcement officers who are responsible for our customs and border security. We will investigate and prosecute any persons shown to have compromised that security, whether by paying or taking bribes," said Patrick J. Fitzgerald, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.