Crossing the line: Corruption at the border

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Oscar Ortiz-Martinez

Oscar Ortiz-Martinez

Age: 30
Occupation: Customs and Border Protection
Gender: Male
Years of service: 1-5 years
Duty station: Calexico, CA
Case date: 9-23-2010
Crime: Convicted of bribery and drug smuggling charges
Sentence: Sentencing reset for Feb. 22, 2013    
Customs and Border Protection Officer Oscar Ortiz-Martinez was arrested in September 2010 on federal corruption charges involving bribery, conspiracy to import a controlled substance, and aiding and abetting the importation of a controlled substance. A federal jury convicted Ortiz-Martinez of bribery and drug smuggling charges in September 2012. Sentencing was scheduled for Nov. 16, 2012, but was reset for February 22, 2013.
News reports

Corrupt CBP officer found guilty (Imperial Valley Press, Sept. 15, 2012)

U.S. border inspector charged with drug conspiracy (Los Angeles Times, Sept. 25, 2010)

Documents

Oscar Ortiz-Martinez Recording Transcript (U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, July 13, 2011)

Oscar Ortiz-Martinez Detention Order (U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, Oct. 19, 2010)

Oscar Ortiz-Martinez Detention Hearing Transcript (U.S. District Court, Southern District of California, Oct. 1, 2010)

The photographs of and information about U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees convicted or suspected of corruption-related charges were obtained by the Center for Investigative Reporting through multiple Freedom of Information Act requests and other sources. The data come primarily from Customs and Border Protection records and an internal agency website called "Trust Betrayed." The purpose of the government site is to illustrate to agency employees what happens to agents and officers caught abusing their positions. The Trust Betrayed website information is for 2005 through September 2011, with supplemental records dating to October 2004. CIR will continue to update this feature as new photographs and information become available.