California border patrol officer allowed illegal immigrants into US for bribes

Published March 28, 2013
FoxNews.com

Pedestrians cross over Interstate 5 at the San Ysidro Border Crossing while others traveling into Mexico head under the bridge, July 23, 2007 in San Diego. (AP/File)

A California border patrol agent pled guilty Thursday to taking bribes in exchange for letting illegal immigrants into the U.S.

According to court records, Hector Rodriguez confessed that from 2010 until his arrest on July 13, 2012 he received bribes such as cash, luxury vehicles and the use of an apartment for allowing illegal immigrants to pass through his inspected lane at the San Ysidro Port-of-Entry.

Rodriguez confessed to receiving the bribes from Gerardo Rodriguez and Maria Guerrero, his co-defendants in the case.

Records state that in one instance, Gerardo Rodriguez drove a vehicle containing 8 illegal aliens and codefendant Vanessa Moya drove a vehicle containing 6 illegal aliens through Hector Rodriguez's inspection lane.

To conceal the smuggling, Rodriguez would enter false information about who was driving the vehicle and the number of occupants into the government database.

Hector Rodriguez was charged with conspiracy to bring illegal aliens in for financial gain and to receive bribes, bringing in aliens for financial gain, and bribery. He will be sentenced in July.

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