In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.

Who watches the Watchers

wipalawipala Member Posts: 11,068
edited November 2006 in General Discussion
It should have been 6 years for every dollar in bribes they took


Border Agents: 6 Years for Taking Bribes


Email this Story

Oct 31, 9:27 PM (ET)

By ELLIOT SPAGAT

SAN DIEGO (AP) - Two former Border Patrol agents were sentenced Tuesday to more than six years each in prison for taking nearly $180,000 in bribes in exchange for releasing immigrant smugglers and illegal immigrants from federal custody.

Mario Alvarez and Samuel McClaren released smugglers and their customers from jail while working on a prisoner transfer program with the Mexican government. They once released a prisoner in a Wal-Mart parking lot for a fee of $6,000, according to court documents.

The agents, based in El Centro, once smuggled two illegal immigrants across the border themselves in a government vehicle and released them for cash, according to court documents. They turned over the location of surveillance cameras and other Border Patrol intelligence to smugglers.

"I made some terrible mistakes, and what I did was wrong," Alvarez, a native of Mexico, told U.S. District Judge John Houston, who sentenced him to six years and three months in prison.


McClaren, 44, wiped away tears with a handkerchief before Houston sentenced him to 6 1/2 years in prison.

"I have betrayed this country, and I think about that every single day," said McClaren, a native of Panama.

The agents were arrested in March and pleaded guilty in July to bribery and filing false tax returns. Alvarez admitted taking $100,300 in bribes and McClaren acknowledged $78,345.

"These veteran agents succumbed to greed, pure and simple," said U.S. Attorney Carol Lam. "While on duty, they smuggled illegal aliens, released criminal aliens from custody, compromised criminal investigations, and jeopardized the safety of their fellow agents."

Prosecutors alleged Alvarez and McClaren took bribes from a ring led by Javier Sanchez Perfino, 28, who was arrested last week on smuggling and conspiracy charges.

The ring smuggled 60 to 80 people a day across the border from Mexico at its height, charging $1,500 a person, said Lauren Mack, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Sanchez Perfino was denied bail last week in federal court. His attorney, John Lemon, didn't immediately respond to a telephone message Tuesday. His girlfriend has said he is innocent.

Comments

  • mrseatlemrseatle Member Posts: 15,467 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Good thing we are not at War or they might have been shot for treason...
  • Dak To 68Dak To 68 Member Posts: 1,404 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I think we are at war, they call it the war against terrorism, it's a shootin' war in the Middle East, and the Mexican border is a most likely point of entry for Islamic terrorists. Maybe a firing squad IS in order.
  • BlckhrnBlckhrn Member Posts: 5,136
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by wipala
    It should have been 6 years for every dollar in bribes they took


    Border Agents: 6 Years for Taking Bribes


    Email this Story

    Oct 31, 9:27 PM (ET)

    By ELLIOT SPAGAT

    SAN DIEGO (AP) - Two former Border Patrol agents were sentenced Tuesday to more than six years each in prison for taking nearly $180,000 in bribes in exchange for releasing immigrant smugglers and illegal immigrants from federal custody.

    Mario Alvarez and Samuel McClaren released smugglers and their customers from jail while working on a prisoner transfer program with the Mexican government. They once released a prisoner in a Wal-Mart parking lot for a fee of $6,000, according to court documents.

    The agents, based in El Centro, once smuggled two illegal immigrants across the border themselves in a government vehicle and released them for cash, according to court documents. They turned over the location of surveillance cameras and other Border Patrol intelligence to smugglers.

    "I made some terrible mistakes, and what I did was wrong," Alvarez, a native of Mexico, told U.S. District Judge John Houston, who sentenced him to six years and three months in prison.


    McClaren, 44, wiped away tears with a handkerchief before Houston sentenced him to 6 1/2 years in prison.

    "I have betrayed this country, and I think about that every single day," said McClaren, a native of Panama.

    The agents were arrested in March and pleaded guilty in July to bribery and filing false tax returns. Alvarez admitted taking $100,300 in bribes and McClaren acknowledged $78,345.

    "These veteran agents succumbed to greed, pure and simple," said U.S. Attorney Carol Lam. "While on duty, they smuggled illegal aliens, released criminal aliens from custody, compromised criminal investigations, and jeopardized the safety of their fellow agents."

    Prosecutors alleged Alvarez and McClaren took bribes from a ring led by Javier Sanchez Perfino, 28, who was arrested last week on smuggling and conspiracy charges.

    The ring smuggled 60 to 80 people a day across the border from Mexico at its height, charging $1,500 a person, said Lauren Mack, a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

    Sanchez Perfino was denied bail last week in federal court. His attorney, John Lemon, didn't immediately respond to a telephone message Tuesday. His girlfriend has said he is innocent.



    The guys pour a couple kid's beers out and you want to hang them. Absolutely no respect for authority. Why don't you guys just leave and find another forum? (Tongue in cheek).
  • BlckhrnBlckhrn Member Posts: 5,136
    edited November -1
    I'm thinking they better not drop their soap in the shower, if you get my drift. Ever wonder why a rotten LEO gets treated as bad or worse than a child molester when they are caught and imprisoned?
  • dakotashooter2dakotashooter2 Member Posts: 6,186
    edited November -1
    quote:Alvarez, a native of Mexico
    quote:McClaren, a native of Panama.

    So were these two naturalized citizens or working for our government on a work permit. If the latter maybe we should reconside hiring non citizens for this job.
  • shoff14shoff14 Member Posts: 11,994 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I wonder how much money they didn't claim?
Sign In or Register to comment.