Two San Diego-based U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers are facing federal charges for allegedly accepting cash bribes to let vehicles cross the U.S.-Mexico border.
Farlis Almonte and Ricardo Rodriguez are accused of allowing vehicles carrying undocumented migrants through while they manned inspection booths at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
The pair allegedly informed co-conspirators when they would be scheduled to work and what lanes they were assigned to in order to facilitate the illegal entries, according to a complaint unsealed this week in San Diego federal court.
Prosecutors say it happened on numerous occasions, from August through January, involving “dozens of cars.”
The men were arrested last week. Though a judge ruled that bail could be set for both men, they remain in custody while prosecutors appeal the order.
Court documents state that some of the evidence against the men came from people caught during smuggling attempts, who told investigators their conspirators were working with CBP officers.
One alleged smuggler’s cell phone contained a screenshot of a message thread that included a person named “Farli USA” who was sharing the times of his work shifts.
Prosecutors allege Rodriguez was connected to numerous “highly suspect crossings” in which he would only record a driver in a vehicle that clearly contained a passenger or would process a driver who was using someone else’s identification.
The men also made larger-than-usual cash deposits during the period of the alleged scheme, prosecutors said.
They face charges that include conspiracy and receipt of bribes by a public official.
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