Federal indictments were handed down today against Merlin Mireles, a thirty-nine year old U. S. Customs & Border Patrol agent, and his mother, sixty-six year old Gloria Mireles on charges of conspiracy, transporting and harboring illegal aliens. Merlin Mireles reportedly drove a Mexican woman and her two children from Texas to Metairie, where his mother and he used her as a domestic servant in exchange for housing. They allegedly lived in the Mireles household for a period of time between 2004 and 2005.

Ms. Mireles also allegedly assisted the woman in finding part-time employment and may have helped the children enroll in school in Jefferson Parish. Merlin Mireles and Gloria Mireles each face up to twenty years in federal prison along with up to a $250,000.00 fine, if convicted on all charges.

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