Man Admits To Lying About Citizenship To Become Border Patrol Agent

SAN DIEGO - A Mexican man who lied about his citizenship to become a U.S. Border Patrol agent and helped smuggle illegal immigrants into the United States has pleaded guilty in federal court.

Oscar Antonio Ortiz, 28, admitted Tuesday that he helped smuggle in more than 100 illegal immigrants. Ortiz and another agent would smuggle illegal immigrants in their vehicles or look the other way while smugglers went through their area, according to court documents.

He is being held without bail and will be sentenced May 12. The other agent has not been charged.

Ortiz was arrested after law enforcement officials listening in on a wiretap overheard him discussing bringing illegal immigrants through the mountains east of Tecate, Mexico.

Before becoming a Border Patrol agent, Ortiz served in the U.S. Navy.