Woman faces bribery, smuggling charges
Comments 1 | Recommend 0
April 19, 2010 10:25 PM
THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

A 49-year-old Brownsville woman remains in federal custody following her arrest on charges of bribery and alien smuggling.

Authorities said Sandra Cecilia Guajardo allegedly paid a bribe to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer to allow vehicles with undocumented immigrants to pass through the CBP officer’s lane on two separate occasions.

Guajardo is expected to have a preliminary and detention hearing Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Ronald G. Morgan. She remains in custody at a Cameron County jail pending her hearing.

According to the criminal complaint, Guajardo met with and offered to pay the CBP officer $500 per undocumented immigrant allowed to pass through the officer’s lane, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a press release.

The smuggling attempts occurred on April 8 and April 16.

Guajardo was arrested last Friday by special agents with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Professional Responsibility.

A conviction of alien smuggling carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine, while bribery carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

www.brownsvilleherald.com