This keeps up we'll be as corrupt as Mexico.

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7005269665

Illegal Border Activity Doubles Bribery Cases Involving U.S. Officials

October 23, 2006 12:43 p.m. EST


Mort Karman - All Headline News Staff Writer
El Paso, Texas (AHN) - Mexican drug and people smugglers have set about a culture of corruption along the 2,000 mile border from Brownsville, Texas, to San Diego, California. At least 200 public employees have been charged or convicted since 2004, which is about double the number of similar offenses in previous years, says a report in Monday's Los Angeles Times. Thousands more are under investigation.

Just about every local, state and federal law enforcement agency is involved. Criminal charges have been filed against Border Patrol agents, local police in many areas, a county sheriff, motor vehicle clerks, immigration supervisors, school district officials and uniformed personnel of every branch of the U.S. military. Even the head of the FBI office in El Paso, Texas, Special Agent in Charge, Hardrick Crawford, has been convicted on federal charges.

Officials in every level of government are worried. They say they really don't know just how deep the corruption goes. James "Chip" Burns, Assistant Director of the Criminal Investigation Division of the FBI, told the Times, "This is the tip of the iceberg. There is a lot more of it down there. The problem is-you don't know what you don't know." The top arrest, thus far, is Hardrick Crawford.

FBI agents thought they had turned alleged Mexican drug kingpin Jose Maria Guardia into an informant. It turned out Guardia was a double agent for the Mexican drug Lords. He drew Crawford into a close personal friendship, providing a job for Crawford's wife, a country club membership for the couple and family trips to Las Vegas.

After the relationship became public, Crawford was convicted of trying to conceal his friendship with Guardia. He faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to a half million dollars.

There are documented cases, including planting a mole in a federal agency, entangling U.S. agents in sexual relationships, giving lots of money, and in some cases even illegal drugs, to law enforcement people who could be in a position to either help or who would look the other way while the drug and people smuggling rings go about their business.

U.S. officials say the Mexican criminal networks can afford lavish payoffs. They estimate the bribery amounts to millions of dollars.

Paul K. Charlton, U.S. attorney for Arizona since 2001, is convinced border corruption is worsening and jeopardizing the trust U.S. communities place in their government.

"The concern for me is that we can very quickly develop a culture that would be more accepting of that kind of conduct," Charlton said. "You only have to look south of the border to see what happens when a certain level of corruption is accepted."