KXO RADIO - Calexico CBP Officer arrested

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Todays is : Thursday, 08 January 2009

Written by George Gale
Monday, 06 October 2008
(Customs and Border Protection Officer arraigned on Bribery charges)….The Calexico Officer was arrested Thursday. An investigation into 22-year-old Jesus Velasco Esparza was initiated in August. It culminated in the arrest of the El Centro resident. A confidential FBI source began the investigation that eventually included the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as well as the FBI. The suspect is being accused of bribery, attempting to aid and abet the importation of controlled substances, and computer fraud. It is alleged Esparza looked up license plate numbers of vehicles suspected of being used to smuggle drugs into the United States. The suspect Officer was reportedly paid $500 for each license plate he ran through the CBP computers and from $7,600 to $13,400 to allow drugs to be smuggled through the port. The drugs Esparza is accused of allowing to be smuggled are cocaine and heroine. He is scheduled for a detention hearing Wednesday.