By Marcus K. Garner
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
JONESBORO, Ga. — Jonathan Bun, accused of killing a Clayton County sheriff’s deputy, isn’t the only one in his family in trouble with the law.
His father allegedly bribed a federal agent last year. He is awaiting trial on the charge.
According to a federal indictment, Hing Bun paid a U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agent $4,000 last September to free himself from the agency’s supervision.
The indictment has no relation to the murder and aggravated assault charges filed against the 17-year-old, who last week allegedly shot and killed Clayton County deputy Richard “Rick” Daly. The officer was trying to serve Jonathan Bun with an arrest warrant for a January robbery when the shooting occurred.
The older Bun, 42, had been placed under an order of supervision by the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, and was required to report to the agency periodically.
Typically, the Enforcement and Removal Operations, among other duties, arrests or deports legal immigrants convicted of committing a crime. In some cases, rather than being detained, immigrants are placed in a supervised status --- similar to probation --- where they are required to report periodically to a designated ICE agent.
It is unclear why Bun was placed in this status originally. Also unclear is the status of the federal agent whom Hing Bun allegedly bribed.
The federal indictment, handed down April 5, accused Hing Bun and five other men of paying between $1,500 and $5,000 each to have that status removed.
Bun paid $2,500 to bond out of federal prison and is currently awaiting trial.
On Wednesday, after his son’s encounter with Daly, and while SWAT teams searched a wooded area near Riverdale Road for the teen, Hing Bun and his wife were questioned by police.
He also had been interviewed by Clayton County police after the armed robbery Jonathan Bun allegedly committed in January.
Copyright 2011 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution