Mexico extradites ex-Border Patrol agents to US

March 12, 2009 5:53 PM ET

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexico has extradited two former U.S. Border Patrol agents accused of taking bribes from migrant smugglers.

The U.S. Embassy says Raul Villarreal and Fidel Villarreal allegedly fled to Mexico after they learned U.S. authorities were investigating them in 2006. The brothers were veteran agents in the San Diego area.

They were detained in Mexico last year along with two suspected migrant smugglers, who were also extradited Thursday.

The embassy says all four will stand trial in California on charges of alien smuggling, money laundering, corruption of public officials and obstruction of justice.

An attorney for Raul Villarreal says he will plead not guilty.


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