Border Corruption Task Force Arrests Border Patrol Agent

San Diego FBI Special Agent in Charge Keith Slotter announces the arrest of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Marcos Gerardo Manzano, Jr., age 26, and Jose Alfredo Garrido-Morena, age 26, as a result of an investigation conducted by the Border Corruption Task Force.

Gerardo Manzano Jr. was arrested on Monday, January 10, 2011, at approximately 11:45 p.m. at the Imperial Beach Border Patrol Station, 1802 Saturn Blvd., San Diego, California. Manzano, Jr. is employed as a United States Border Patrol Agent. Manzano, Jr. was arrested pursuant to a federal arrest warrant charging Manzano, Jr. with harboring illegal aliens and making a false statement.

Jose Alfredo Garrido-Morena, was arrested by members of an FBI SWAT team on Tuesday, January 11, 2011, shortly after 6:00 a.m. Garrido-Morena was arrested in the 3600 block of Shooting Star Drive in San Diego, California, after the SWAT team made entry into the residence occupied by Garrido-Morena and others. Garrido-Morena was arrested pursuant to a federal arrest warrant charging Garrido-Morena with being a deported alien with no legal right to enter or remain in the United States. Garrido-Morena is not employed by any U.S. government agency. No injuries were reported as a result of the SWAT entry.

According to a complaint filed in this matter, in the U.S. District Court, Southern District, of California, Marcos Gerardo Manzano, Jr. and his father, Marcos Gerardo Manzano, Sr., are charged with violations of federal immigration laws and making a false statement. Jose Alfredo Garrido-Moreno is charged in a separate complaint with being a deported alien found in the United States.

Marcos Gerardo Manzano, Sr. is currently a fugitive. The Border Corruption Task Force is currently seeking the whereabouts of Manzano, Sr. Anyone with information concerning Manzano, Sr.’s whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI at telephone number, (858) 565-1255.

Marcos Gerardo Manzano Sr. is described as follows:

Sex: Male
Race: Hispanic
Age: 46 years old
Height: 5’8” tall
Weight: 190 lbs.
Hair: Black
Eyes: Hazel

Manzano, Jr. and Garrido have been booked into the Metropolitan Correctional Center, where they will remain pending their initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge on Wednesday, January 12, 2011. This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

This investigation was conducted by the Customs Border Protection - Field Operations, Customs Border Protection-Internal Affairs, Border Patrol, and the FBI.

An arrest itself is not evidence that the defendants committed the crimes charged. The defendants are presumed innocent until the government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.