Customs Agent Gets 23 Years for Taking Bribes to Let Drugs and Immigrants Enter US

A former customs agent received a 23-year prison sentence in federal court in San Diego on Oct. 25 for using his official position to allow illegal drugs to flow across the border into the United States.
Numerous witnesses testified during the trial that George permitted vehicles containing drugs to enter the United States through his lane in late 2021.
George would alert his associates in a drug trafficking organization of his inspection lane, as well as how long they would have to wait to get to the front.
In February 2022, however, the scheme came crashing down. Law enforcement placed an alert on a suspected drug smuggling vehicle entering George’s lane. Since the vehicle had been flagged, George had no choice but to send it into secondary inspection, where approximately 222 pounds of meth were uncovered.
George then allowed a second vehicle tied to the traffickers to enter the United States. That vehicle was traveling right behind the flagged vehicle and was found to be carrying 200 pounds of drugs.
George’s own text messages revealed that he was paid $13,000 for allowing the second vehicle to enter.
On the day he received the bribe, George bought a 2020 Cadillac CT5 as a gift for a member of the drug trafficking organization. He delivered it on Valentine’s Day in Ensenada, Mexico.
George allowed vehicles carrying illegal immigrants to enter through his lane over a six-month period. He routinely omitted passengers and failed to include the real names of drivers, using the names of others to cover up his crimes.
Prosecutors found approximately 19 such crossings during the six-month period.
According to his text messages, George charged the traffickers $17,000 per vehicle.
One text message reveals that George earned $68,000 in June 2022 after allowing four vehicles from one organization to enter his lane.
George also purchased bottles of alcohol and gifts for the dancers. During the investigation, prosecutors discovered a photograph of a member of the drug trafficking organization sporting George’s Customs and Border Protection uniform jacket in a selfie, showing how close his relationship with his criminal associates had become.
“Mr. George should have used his position of authority and trust to protect the United States; however, he used it for his own financial gain,” FBI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy said.
“This guilty verdict sends a clear message that federal employees who violate the law will be held accountable for their actions,” Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari said.
An indictment unsealed on July 3, 2023, charged George alongside Mario Angel Gutierrez, Esteban Galvan, and four unnamed defendants with conspiracy to import and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances in the Southern District of California and beyond. George was separately charged with receiving bribes.
“The indictment alleges that Officer George broke the very drug trafficking laws that he was supposed to enforce,” U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman said at the time.
The Epoch Times reached out to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for comment but did not receive a reply by publication time.