Crossing the line: Corruption at the border

22 cases from 2009 • all

Customs and Border Protection agents and officers are increasingly becoming the target of corruption investigations. Here are some recent cases. Click on the photos to see more information about each one. Note: Some photos were unavailable.

State

TX 47 (31)
CA 29 (19)
AZ 25 (17)
FL 10 (7)
NY 8 (5)
NM 5 (3)
IL 3 (2)
MI 3 (2)
NJ 3 (2)
WA 3 (2)
GA 2 (1)
LA 2 (1)
SC 2 (1)
MA 2 (1)
SK 1 (1)
PA 1 (1)
NV 1 (1)
OH 1 (1)
DC 1 (1)
ND 1 (1)
BC 1 (1)

Gender

Male 133 (88)
Female 18 (12)

Agency

Years of service

1-5 years 50 (33)
6-10 years 48 (32)
16+ years 29 (19)
11-15 years 21 (14)
< 1 year 3 (2)

Type of crime

Drug trafficking 48 (32)
Bribery 41 (27)
Human smuggling 36 (24)
False statement 15 (10)
Unlawful/unauthorized use of computer 13 (9)
Aiding and abetting 12 (8)
Document fraud 9 (6)
Money laundering 7 (5)
False statement to federal agent 6 (4)
Conspiracy 6 (4)
Unauthorized use of property/theft 6 (4)
Harboring and transporting illegal immigrants 4 (3)
Conspiracy to smuggle illegal immigrants 3 (2)
Theft of government funds 3 (2)
Wire fraud 3 (2)
False writing 2 (1)
Possession of gun in drug-related crime 2 (1)
Witness tampering 2 (1)
Filing false tax return 2 (1)
Conspiracy, smuggling goods from U.S. 2 (1)
Theft 2 (1)
Workers' compensation fraud 2 (1)
Theft of government property 2 (1)
Acceptance of gratuity by public official 2 (1)
Fraud 2 (1)
Encouraging illegal immigrant to stay in U.S. 2 (1)
Embezzlement 1 (1)
Disclosure of confidential information 1 (1)
Identity theft 1 (1)
False seals 1 (1)
Possession of a weapon during felony 1 (1)
Fraudulent Scheme 1 (1)
conspiracy to smuggle aliens for financial gain 1 (1)
False Personation 1 (1)
Vehicle Theft 1 (1)
Official misconduct 1 (1)
False statement related to purchase of firearms 1 (1)
Theft and conveyance of government record 1 (1)
Financial structuring 1 (1)
Extortion 1 (1)
Conspiracy to commit bribery 1 (1)
Possession of Images of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct 1 (1)
Sexual crime 1 (1)
Obstruction of justice 1 (1)
Computer fraud 1 (1)
Concealing Person From Arrest 1 (1)
conspiring to make a false statement during firearm purchase 1 (1)
Interstate transportation of stolen goods 1 (1)
Conspiring to make a false statement 1 (1)
Harboring illegal immigrants 1 (1)

Year

2008 29 (19)
2009 22 (15)
2005 18 (12)
2010 17 (11)
2004 14 (9)
2011 13 (9)
2012 12 (8)
2006 10 (7)
2007 6 (4)
2013 5 (3)
2000 1 (1)

Age

30-39 58 (38)
40-49 52 (34)
20-29 22 (15)
50-59 16 (11)
60-69 3 (2)

Duty station

Miami 6 (60)
San Ysidro Port of Entry 5 (50)
Otay Mesa 5 (50)
Brownsville Port of Entry 5 (50)
Nogales 5 (50)
Ysleta 5 (50)
Calexico 4 (40)
Sierra Blanca 4 (40)
Naco 4 (40)
Buffalo 4 (40)
San Diego 3 (30)
Del Rio 3 (30)
Yuma Sector 3 (30)
Los Angeles International Airport 3 (30)
Pharr Port of Entry 3 (30)
El Centro 3 (30)
Detroit-Windsor Tunnel 2 (20)
Blaine Port of Entry 2 (20)
O'Hare International Airport 2 (20)
Miami International Airport 2 (20)
El Cajon 2 (20)
Gateway to the Americas Bridge 2 (20)
El Paso 2 (20)
Newark 2 (20)
Port of Charleston 2 (20)
Imperial Beach 2 (20)
Rio Grande City 2 (20)
John F. Kennedy International Airport 2 (20)
San Luis Port of Entry 2 (20)
Sonoita 2 (20)
Eagle Pass 2 (20)
New Orleans 2 (20)
Bridge of the Americas Port of Entry 2 (20)
McAllen 2 (20)
Deming 2 (20)
Progreso Port of Entry 2 (20)
Sells 2 (20)
Atlanta 2 (20)
Alexandria Bay 2 (20)
Houston 1 (10)

News reports

Documents

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.

Reported by Andrew Becker
Produced by Carrie Ching and Andrew Becker
Development by Hot Type Consulting