Thread: San Diego Border Inspectors in Custody

http://nctimes.com/articles/2006/06/..._286_10_06.txt

San Diego border inspectors in custody


SAN DIEGO -- Two border agents who allegedly took bribes from immigrant and drug smugglers were behind bars Saturday.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agent Richard Elizalda, 55, pleaded not guilty yesterday to 11 charges, including bribery by a public official, conspiracy to bring in illegal aliens for financial gain and bringing in illegal aliens for financial gain.

Six co-defendants -- Raquel Arin, Perla Centella, Carmen Alvarado, Sandra Munoz, Kenneth Web, Victor Gomez and Jorge Gomez -- are charged with the same conspiracy count. Victor and Jorge Gomez also are charged with trying to smuggle 200 pounds of pot into the United States.


Elizalda, who worked at the San Ysidro border crossing, allegedly arranged for smugglers to be in the inspection lane where he was working, then waved them through. He is scheduled for a detention hearing on Tuesday.

Elizalda, who was arrested Thursday, got between $500 and $1,000 per smuggled immigrant, and also accepted expensive cars as gifts, according to an FBI agent. At least $36,500 in cash was found in a search of his Chula Vista home.

On Tuesday, Customs and Border Protection Agent Michael Gilliland, 44, who worked at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, was arrested on similar charges.

He allegedly made about $1,500 for each illegal immigrant he let into the country. More than $500,000 in cash was recovered in the homes of the defendants in that case, code-named "Operation Midnight Express," U.S. Attorney Carol Lam said.

At Gilliland's five-bedroom home, investigators found about $18,000 worth of Iraqi dinar.

A woman who authorities said arranged the smuggling in Gilliland's case, Marina Perez de Garcia, had her bail set at $150,000.

Both CBP agents earned about $65,000 per year.

At Gilliland's five-bedroom home, investigators found about $18,000 worth of Iraqi dinar. ""


Thats great, this guy should never be allowed out of prison.

Xian, I couldn't agree with you more! Talk about a deal with the devil!!

The corruption of Mexico coming to a city near you.

Dixie

Apr 2, 2007 5:52 pm US/Pacific

Border Inspector Gets Prison For Corruption
Women Who Admitted To Bribery Sentenced To Prison
(AP) SAN DIEGO, Calif. A pair of women who admitted to bribing a border officer into helping them smuggle hundreds of illegal immigrants from Mexico into the United States are going to prison for the scheme.

Sandra Munoz and Carmen Alvarado were charged last June with giving San Ysidro border officer Richard Elizalda cash and luxury cars in return for his help sneaking cars through the port of entry.

Investigators say that in return for allowing smugglers entry, the ten-year veteran of U.S. Customs and Border Protection received as much as $1,000 for each immigrant, totaling $120,000 in cash starting in 2004.

Alvarado will spend 30 months in prison. Munoz was given a 21-month sentence.

Elizalda also pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to six years behind bars.

http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_092205340.html

Originally Posted by jean

Apr 2, 2007 5:52 pm US/Pacific

Border Inspector Gets Prison For Corruption
Women Who Admitted To Bribery Sentenced To Prison
(AP) SAN DIEGO, Calif. A pair of women who admitted to bribing a border officer into helping them smuggle hundreds of illegal immigrants from Mexico into the United States are going to prison for the scheme.

Sandra Munoz and Carmen Alvarado were charged last June with giving San Ysidro border officer Richard Elizalda cash and luxury cars in return for his help sneaking cars through the port of entry.

Investigators say that in return for allowing smugglers entry, the ten-year veteran of U.S. Customs and Border Protection received as much as $1,000 for each immigrant, totaling $120,000 in cash starting in 2004.

Alvarado will spend 30 months in prison. Munoz was given a 21-month sentence.

Elizalda also pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to six years behind bars.

http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_092205340.html

And the two guys who were trying to do things the right way and supposedly shot a drug smuggler in the butt got 11 and 12 years.