Two customs and Border Security Officers have been accused of accepting thousands of dollars in bribery to allow unwarded migrants in the United States without appropriate investigation.
Farlis Almonte and Ricardo Rodriguez were both stationed at the country’s busiest land crossings, which was entrusted to the immigration inspection booths at San YSIDRO Port of Entry of Admission to Southern California. According to federal prosecutors, the authorities allegedly worked with illegal waves with human smugglers in Mexico, according to federal prosecutors, through vehicles packed with individuals, individuals.
After highlighting the text messages between officers and known smugglers, the investigators highlighted the text messages with unexplained cash deposits in their individual bank accounts. The surveillance footage showed at least one example, where the vehicle carrying two people was stopped, but only the driver was recorded as entering the country.
The prosecutors claimed that the two officials accepted thousands of dollars per vehicle. CBS News reported that over time, the pair has helped dozens of migrants to cross the US without a document.
Almonnets and Rodriguez used to make allegations from an investigation off last year after almonet and Rodriguez. When Almondte was in custody, the investigators allegedly seized around $ 70,000 in cash, believing that his partner was trying to go to Tijuana. He can now face additional allegations for money laundering and hindrance in justice.
Michael Hawkins, a lawyer for Ricardo Rodriguez, said the matter was still in its early stage and reminded the public that his client was innocent until he is guilty.
“We are ready to work through the current situation,” Hawkins said in an email, described Rodriguez as “hardworking and loyal”.
It is not yet clear whether Almontte has a lawyer to represent it.
American Attorney Andrew Hayden condemned the alleged tasks, “Any customs and border security agent who transforms smugglers who bring unlikely immigrants in the US into an eye -eye eye or swear by them and endangered our national security.”
The case marks the latest in a string of corruption scams involving border officials in the San Diego region. In the last two years, five officers have faced similar allegations.
In another case last year, former Inspector Leonard Darnell George was sentenced to 23 years in jail after accepting bribe to allow unarmed migrants and drug -filled vehicles through the same San Yasidro crossing.
