CBP agent pleads guilty to charges
March 03, 2011 10:33 PM
By LAURA B. MARTINEZ, The Brownsville Herald

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer pleaded guilty Thursday to drug trafficking, human smuggling and bribery charges shortly before jury selection in his trial was set to begin.

Luis Enrique Ramirez, 38, of Brownsville, entered the plea before U.S. Judge Andrew S. Hanen. He admitted that between November 2007 and January 2009, he was a member of a drug trafficking organization while working as a CBP officer as well, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reported.

Ramirez was employed with CBP when he committed the crimes.

Ramirez confessed that in December 2008, he allowed a co-conspirator to transport more than 26 pounds of cocaine at a international bridge crossing without being inspected.

He also admitted that between July 2008 and January 2009 he conspired with other individuals to bring undocumented immigrants into the United States and transporting them farther into the U.S. In addition, he admitted to accepting bribes, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reported.

Ramirez is scheduled to be sentenced on June 6, and as part of his guilty plea, he has been ordered to forfeit $500,000, which represents the proceeds of his criminal activity, authorities said.

Court records reflect that Ramirez received at least $800,000 in bribes.

He will remain in federal custody until his sentencing.

Ramirez was arrested last Oct. 30 after he tried to cross to Brownsville from Matamoros. He reportedly had been on the run for more than a year. He was named in a federal indictment dated April 14, 2009.

While in Mexico, Ramirez claimed that he had been subject to illegal torture. He also stated he was kidnapped, tortured and drugged by members of an armed cartel.

Ramirez claimed his kidnapping was ordered by U.S. law enforcement officials, who wanted him brought back to the United States, according to court documents.

“At the instruction of American law enforcement, Mexican narcotic dealers kidnapped and held defendant in captivity for approximately 18 days,â€