McALLEN, TX – A Border Patrol (BP) agent has been arrested on allegations he attempted to aid and abet smuggling cocaine through a BP checkpoint, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Oberlin Cortez Pena Jr., 22, La Joya, is set to make his appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nadia S. Medrano at 9 a.m. today.
Authorities took him into custody July 9 upon the filing of a criminal complaint. The charges allege that on two separate occasions, Pena accepted $1,000 in exchange for helping a vehicle with at least five kilograms of cocaine through the Falfurrias checkpoint. Pena allegedly utilized his knowledge as a BP agent in acting as a scout and providing information about the inspection lanes and which one to utilize.
According to the complaint, he also gave detailed instructions on how to conceal the drugs and tactics to employ in order to distract the K-9 unit at the checkpoint.
If convicted, he faces a minimum of 10 years up to life in federal prison as well as a possible $10 million maximum fine.
Department of Homeland Security - Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation with assistance from Customs and Border Protection - Office of Professional Responsibility and BP. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jongwoo Chung and John Pearson are prosecuting the case.
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I hope he gets the max. 1000$ For 10 years= 100$ a year! And federal time you don’t get paroled early, you do every day!
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PermalinkWhy does he have to go to jail and Biden doesn't ? That stupid a$$ fool is doing the same thing but where this guy let one bring drugs across, Biden is letting tens of thousands do the same thing............
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PermalinkBiden's border patrol caught them. It's still illegal to come across the border. How is Biden "letting" anyone in?
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PermalinkNot biden's Border Patrol. Abbott's Border Patrol. If biden could get away with it, we wouldn't even have a Border Patrol.
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Permalinkhttps://www.cbp.gov/
You are wrong, the border patrol is a federal agency, under the direction of the department of homeland security.
Show me some proof that Biden wants to dissolve the border patrol, or you are just lying as usual.
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