Federal agents testified that US border guards accused of smuggling immigrants across the El Paso border are said to be moonlit as members of a Mexican drug cartel.
CBP officer Manuel Perez Jr. is a 32-year-old US citizen originally from California, a member of Rhineya, and more commonly known as the Juare drug cartel, investigators said last Thursday. He said at the hearing.
“Several witnesses said he belonged to the Lanea Cartel in Mexico,” he said. El Paso Times.
Perez was fired on February 8th after being arrested by the FBI El Paso West Texas Border Corruption Task Force on federal and human drug smuggling charges.
Perez could last up to 10 years in prison if convicted. He has neither reported any past criminal history nor any substance issues. The federal magistrate ordered him to remain in prison without detention following the February 13 detention hearing.
Perez told investigators he was paid $2,500 for each undocumented migrant who allowed him to pass through his inspection lane at the international bridge on the El Paso border, a special agent testified. . He specifically granted one grey Nissan Pathfinder that allowed him to cross several border smuggling immigrants, including children, on the indictment.
It is unknown how many people helped Perez smuggle across the border before he was caught.
In total, prosecutors estimated that Perez could fill his wallet for up to $400,000 in a scheme dating back to December 2023.
He is also said to have been involved in a cocaine distribution conspiracy from November 2019 until the beginning of this month, according to the indictment. In one instance, he is accused of helping to travel 8 kilometres of cocaine from El Paso to Louisiana and North Carolina in October 2023.
Agents testified that other smugglers heard on intercepted calls implying a “100% guarantee” intersection thanks to “officials in the pocket.”
Perez's lawyer, Reuben Ortiz, noted that the smugglers he heard over the phone may have lied about Perez's involvement.
“The witnesses who are cooperating are telling (federal agents) anything they want to hear for now,” Ortiz said.
However, the agent testified that Perez was always armed, even when he was asleep, and the witnesses said he insisted on details of armed security with him whenever he was in Mexico. – Accusations supported by photo evidence, he added.
Another witness told investigators he preferred to be arrested in Mexico if it was brought to it so that Perez could continue his criminal act in prison, special agents repeatedly Ta.
CBP investigators analyzed a database of recorded boundary intersections and understood that Perez spent more than 80% of his time in Mexico when he was not working at the border, special agents say. Ta. Ortiz claimed Perez was there frequently because his old girlfriend lived there.
However, during a sweeping at Perez's home in Juarez, Mexican agents reported finding $18,000 in cash, special agents said.
“All measures make him live in Mexico,” the agent said of Perez.
It is unclear where the remaining profits of Perez's smuggling lie.
The judge ruled that Perez was “unsuspected” that he was at a flight risk because of his time spent in Mexico, coupled with his alleged involvement in the cartel.
