Ex-US Border Inspector Pleads Guilty To Bribery
SAN DIEGO (CBSLA.com) — A former U.S. border inspector has admitted to taking bribes to bring illegal immigrants into California.
KNX 1070's Brian Ping reports Hector Rodriguez pleaded guilty Thursday to taking bribes from drivers shuttling undocumented aliens into the country and faces up to 35 years in prison.
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Prosecutors say between 2010 and his arrest last July, Rodriguez, a former Customs and Border Protection Officer, received bribes including cash, use of luxury vehicles, and use of an apartment in exchange for failing to enforce U.S. immigration laws by admitting illegal aliens into the U.S. through his inspection lane at the San Ysidro Port-of-Entry.
On the date of his arrest, Rodriguez, 45, of San Diego, ushered through two cars carrying 14 people into the country illegally.
As part of his guilty plea, defendant Rodriguez has agreed to forfeit a 2009 Jaguar, 12 luxury watches, jewelry, televisions, and computers that were obtained as a result of his criminal activity.
Co-defendant Gerardo Rodriguez has agreed to forfeit a 2005 Mercedes, 2006 Harley Davidson, $60,000 in cash, televisions, and computers that were obtained as a result of his criminal activity.
Rodriguez is scheduled to be sentenced in July.
