Former FBI Agent Sentenced

Defendant Admitted Employing Illegal Aliens in Her Restaurant

DALLAS—Ann Cox, a former special agent with the FBI in Dallas, was sentenced this morning by Chief U.S. District Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater to two years' probation and ordered to pay an $18,000 fine, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Cox, 49, of Rockwall, Texas, pleaded guilty in September to the misdemeanor offense of unlawfully employing aliens.

According to documents filed in the case, from at least August 1997 until December 2008, Cox operated a Schlotzky's Deli in Rockwall. While operating the deli, she hired and employed individuals, knowing that they were not either admitted for permanent residence in the U.S. or authorized to be employed. The documents name a total of six such individuals.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert E. Casey, Jr. stated, "When FBI internal security procedures first detected the possibility that former Special Agent Cox may have committed this crime, I immediately referred this matter to our headquarters in Washington, D.C. Pursuant to established procedures within the Department of Justice, an investigation was then conducted by the Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with the full cooperation of the FBI. While it is disappointing that an FBI special agent chose to break the law, it is important for citizens to understand that the FBI has an unwavering commitment to take appropriate action when transgressions are committed by its employees, the overwhelming majority of whom are above reproach in their professional and personal conduct."

Deputy Criminal Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Guess and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert H. Dunikoski, III, were in charge of the prosecution.