SAN DIEGO
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer accused of accepting bribes to allow cocaine and heroin to be smuggled into the country at the Calexico Port of Entry was arraigned Friday in federal court.
Jesus Velasco Esparza, 22, of El Centro, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter C. Lewis in El Centro, the U.S. Attorney's office in San Diego said.
Esparza was arrested Thursday in Imperial County following an nvestigation by the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.
He is accused of bribery; attempting to aid and abet importation of controlled substances; and computer fraud for looking up license plate numbers of vehicles suspected of being used to smuggle drugs into the United States, according to a federal complaint filed Thursday.
According to the complaint, the investigation began in August with the assistance of a confidential FBI source.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Forge said Friday that Esparza was paid $500 for each license plate he ran through CBP computers, and from $7,600 to $13,400 to allow drugs to be smuggled through the port.
Esparza is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday for a detention hearing.
http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_10634548?nclick_check=1
No comments:
Post a Comment