Customs & Border Protection<\/a> officer, Diego Bonillo, who also pleaded guilty last year.<\/p>\nThe two officers admitted that they provided an organization connected to the Sinaloa Cartel with their duty schedules and lane assignments so that the drugs could pass through, beginning at least in 2021. The scheme continued until 2024, prosecutors say.<\/p>\n
The two officers relied on a secret emoji-based code in text messages to communicate their work shift and lane assignments with the drug smugglers, the DOJ said in the release. The drug smugglers would then send cocaine, meth and fentanyl through the northbound border lanes they worked at.<\/p>\n
Authorities say that Garcia admitted to bringing in at least 100 kilos of fentanyl, 107 kilos of meth and 270 kilos of cocaine.<\/p>\n
Garcia worked at the Tecate port of entry, a smaller border crossing about an hour east of San Diego, while Bonillo worked at the Otay Mesa port of entry, a short drive south of San Diego.<\/p>\n
Garcia exploited the Customs & Border Protection\u2019s flexible duty-switching policies to place himself in inspection lanes where he was not scheduled to work, the DOJ said. He would also falsely claim that technical issues prevented certain checks, thus allowing the drugs into the country, the department said.<\/p>\n
In exchange, Garcia received $10,000 for each drug-laden vehicle he let through the border. As a result, Garcia funded a lavish lifestyle, including a high-end vehicle, a horse-racing business and a ranch in Mexico, the DOJ said.<\/p>\n
\u201cJesse Clark Garcia showed total disregard for the oath he took as a CBP officer to protect our communities when he knowingly and repeatedly allowed cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into our country,\u201d special agent in charge Mark Remily of the FBI San Diego Field Office said in the DOJ release. \u201cFBI San Diego and our partners work tirelessly to ensure those individuals dishonoring the badge are held accountable. The corrupt few do not represent the whole of the federal law enforcement workforce. Today\u2019s sentence demonstrates the FBI\u2019s commitment to rooting out those unworthy individuals and paving the way for justice to be served.\u201d<\/p>\n
Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph Cuffari added that his office will continue to root out corruption.<\/p>\n
\u201cDHS employees who abuse their positions and betray the public\u2019s trust will be held accountable for their actions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Bonillo was sentenced to 15 years<\/a> in prison last year.<\/p>\nAn attorney for Garcia declined to comment.<\/p>\n
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