Former Customs and Border Protection Officer Admits to Receiving Bribes to Allow Aliens to Enter the U.S. Illegally

United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Hector Rodriguez, a former Customs and Border Protection officer, and Gerardo Rodriguez pled guilty today in front of Magistrate Judge David Bartick to conspiracy to bring in aliens for financial gain and to receive bribes, bringing in aliens for financial gain, and bribery.

According to court records, defendant Hector Rodriguez agreed that from around 2010 until his arrest on July 13, 2012, he received bribes from co-defendants Gerardo Rodriguez and Maria Guerrero, in the form of cash money, use of luxury vehicles, and use of an apartment, in return for failing to enforce U.S. immigration laws by admitting illegal aliens into the U.S. through his inspection lane at the San Ysidro Port-of-Entry. Defendant Hector Rodriguez provided his lane assignment information to co-defendants who would then drive vehicles containing illegal aliens from Mexico to the United States through his assigned inspection lane. On their date of arrest, July 13, 2012, codefendant Gerardo Rodriguez drove a vehicle containing eight illegal aliens, and co-defendant Vanessa Moya drove a vehicle containing six illegal aliens through defendant Hector Rodriguez’s inspection lane. To conceal the smuggling, defendant Hector Rodriguez would enter into the government database false information about who was driving the vehicle and the number of occupants, thereby concealing the fact that the vehicles contained illegal aliens. As part of his guilty plea, Defendant Hector Rodriguez has agreed to forfeit a 2009 Jaguar, 12 luxury watches (including five Rolexes), jewelry, televisions, and computers that were obtained as a result of his criminal activity. Codefendant Gerardo Rodriguez has agreed to forfeit a 2005 Mercedes, 2006 Harley Davidson, $60,000, televisions, and computers that were obtained as a result of his criminal activity.

The defendants are scheduled to appear for sentencing before U.S. District Judge Roger T. Benitez on July 1, 2013, at 9 a.m.

Defendants in Case Number: 12cr2997-BEN/12cr4462-BEN

Hector Rodriguez, age 45, San Diego, California
Gerardo Rodriguez, age 42, Chula Vista, California
Vanessa Moya, age 30, San Diego, California
Maria Guerrero, age 39, Chula Vista, California

Summary of Charges

Count one—Title 8, United States Code, Section 371- conspiracy to bring in aliens for financial gain and bribery Maximum penalties—five years’ imprisonment and $250,000 fine

Counts two through four and nine—Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324(a)(2)(B)(ii)-bringing in illegal aliens for financial gain
Mandatory minimum penalty—five years’ imprisonment Maximum penalties—15 years’ imprisonment and $250,000 fine

Counts 16-17—Title 18, United States Code, Sections 201(b)(1), 201(b)(2)—bribery
Maximum penalties—15 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine or three times the amount of bribe, whichever is greater

Investigating Agencies

The Border Corruption Task Force is composed of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Customs and Border Protection-Internal Affairs, Customs and Border Protection-Field Operations, Border Patrol, Transportation Security Administration, and Drug Enforcement Administration.