I was thinking that the Feds prosecuting him illustrates their overall failure to get a handle on the situation. They should have let him sweat a little then used him to get intel on the movers for a bust-up sting prosecution in exchange for leniency.
They've basically traded a valuable opportunity for an "example made". This tells me that the Feds don't want to solve the real problem but are willing to rake this guy over (who was probably given an offer he couldn't refuse) for cheap career-enhancement purposes and easy positive publicity.
...."Gilliland has been under house arrest, monitored by an electronic ankle bracelet, since posting $750,000 bond earlier this summer."....
Where does a border patrol agent get $750.000?? Oh, never mind.....
"They've basically traded a valuable opportunity for an "example made". This tells me that the Feds don't want to solve the real problem but are willing to rake this guy over (who was probably given an offer he couldn't refuse) for cheap career-enhancement purposes and easy positive publicity."
Bingo, NRT! But you and I are part of the "great unwashed" and we could never figure this out!
Prior to CBP Taking over, corruption was almost completely ignored by INS.
CBP is trying to get a handle on corruption in the ranks; this will do more to stifle smuggling then busting some 2 bit smuggling ring that will be replaced by two others in a matter of minutes.