US Embassy in Sofia's Ex-Employee Investigated over 'Mafia Links'

Gregory V. Houston, formerly working for the security of the American Embassy in Bulgaria, was investigated under suspicion of ties to te Bulgarian mafia and illegal activity.

An article in the Newsweek magazine dedicated to a murder of staff at the US Consulate in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, surprisingly involves the name of Houston and makes the revelation.

The text quotes officials from the US State Department as saying he was suspected of selling visas, but was nevertheless allowed to retire in 2010 and thus avoid prosecution.

Citing a draft report by the Department, Newsweek claims that allegations against Houston involved "association with the Mafia in Sofia, over 400 visa referrals, [and the] misuse of armored vehicles."

Houston, who worked at the US Embassy in Sofia between 2006 and 2009, became suspicious after having issued an "excessive" number of visa referral for Bulgarians willing to travel to the US.

He denied having received money or anything else from Bulgarians and explained that the issuing of 400 referrals "wasn't unusual for people from former Soviet countries".