Border worker sentenced to 18 months in prison

FEDERAL COURT: A contract worker for U.S. Customs and Border Protection was sentenced to 18 months in prison yesterday for trying to release an illegal immigrant from custody in exchange for money.

Christopher Saint-Lucero, who had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of transporting illegal immigrants for financial gain, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Miller.

Saint-Lucero worked as a sergeant for Wackenhut Corp., which contracts with the agency to transport illegal immigrants to Mexico after they are captured. He worked at the Border Patrol station in Chula Vista.

Prosecutors said that on June 1, 2008, Saint-Lucero tried to release an illegal immigrant who was in agency custody in exchange for $2,500 in cash.

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