CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- A federal jury here convicted a Texas resident who had been indicted for offering a $50,000 bride to a Resolution Trust Corp. contractor, the RTC said.
The jury found Houston resident Viren Patel - also known as Victor Patel - guilty of giving an illegal gratuity to a public official and of interstate travel to facilitate an unlawful activity.
Mr. Patel was indicted in May for offering the bribe to an asset manager employed by Cedar Rapids' Aegon Realty Advisors Inc., and RTC contractor. The Texan allegedly tried to influence consideration of an offer he made to buy a $1.3 million motel in Columbus, Ohio.
The hotel, which was managed by the contractor, was owned by the RTC. The asset manager reported the attempted bribe.
