CA: Second border agent held on bribery charges (CBP Chula Vista)

San Diego Union - Tribune ^ | 6/8/06 | O'Nell Soto

[NormsRevenge]

For the second time this week, a border inspector was arrested and charged with waiving smugglers into the country in exchange for bribes.

Customs and Border Protection Inspector Richard Elizalda of Chula Vista was indicted Friday, along with seven other people, on conspiracy and other charges. The indictment was unsealed Thursday.

Authorities said smugglers bribed Elizalda with cash and a Lexus automobile to allow them to use his lane at the San Ysidro border crossing to bring illegal immigrants and marijuana into the United States.

Another inspector was brought into San Diego federal court Wednesday on similar charges. Authorities said Michael Gilliland, 44, of Chula Vista, accepted cash bribes from smugglers.

“These inspectors betrayed the trust of their countrymen,” said Stewart Roberts, the second highest-ranking agent at the San Diego FBI office.

He said Elizalda collected $500 to $700 for every immigrant he illegally allowed to enter the country and Gilliland charged $1,500 per smuggled alien.

“A tragedy has occurred here,” said Adele Fasano, who oversees Customs and Border Protection operations in San Diego. Both inspectors will be fired because of the charges, she said.

The inspectors were investigated by the Border Corruption Task Force over the past two years. Their activities are not related, authorities said, nor are they connected to the case of another border inspector, Michael Taylor, convicted in November 2004 of similar charges.

Elizalda and the eight people indicted with him are expected to be arraigned Friday.

Corruption at the border is disheartening to the hundreds of thousands of honest officials guarding the nation's security, said U.S. Attorney Carol Lam.

“These are exceptions,” she said.

[CindyDawg]

It's amazing that the reporter felt like he had to add that they would both be fired.

[Dog Gone]

Wonderful. If our folks at the border are as corrupt as the Mexican police, it doesn't matter how many of them we have there.

[ncountylee]

“These are exceptions,” she said.

Of course they are, Federal employees are almost perfect. In the average year, about 400 are terminated for cause out 2.7 million. Must have near perfect employees, hiring practices, managers etc....NOT.

[calljack]

I have heard that many many many of the border agents are relatives of anchor babies that were brought in under the family reunification act. They are another 5th column we have to deal with.

[Rembrandt]

What about Adele Fasano? What about supervision, oversight? Is there no responsibility? Ohhhhh, I forgot, this is in the land of the fruits and the nuts. Forget what I said. Everything is ok, everything, nobody is responsible for anything, ever.

[peeps36]

I remember reading a notice from the government when it was looking for people to relocate and become border patrol agents.It had to be around eight years ago but I still remember that the pay rate was terrible.If I remember correctly the starting salary was $21,000 a year.I can't say I was surprised the government would pay some worthless chair warmer $40 or $50k but only pay half that amount for a job that's important.

[South40]

Seeing as how they share a common interest, Bush will probably pardon them.

[Ajnin]

Considering this administration wants quantity instead of quality we can expect far more corruption at the border.

[gubamyster]

ping

[Ajnin]

CBP and probably the entire DHS is nothing more than a high priced welfare program. For Christ's sake, the Border Patrol hired an illegal alien. You remember illegal alien Oscar Ortiz? The ex-sailor with a top secret security clearance turned Border Patrol Agent, turned drug/alien smuggler? There are places on the border that have a permamenant staff of OIG because the corruption is so bad.

[Ajnin]

If I was running things. People with six months of work experience at Albertson's or the movie theater would not be hired. Infantry Marines and Special Operaters would be given preference along with non veterans with technical university degrees. Females would be barred from the Border Patrol except for administrative roles. Native Spanish speakers would learn Arabic, Chinese or Portuguese instead of Spanish at the Border Patrol Academy. I would endeavor to provide the Border Patrol with every non lethal device available and would condone their use on any person crossing illegally into the US. Illegal aliens in load vehicles would be given no quarter. Border Patrol
Agents would be allowed to PIT, ram or shoot smuggling load vehicles provided they use good judgement, so as to not unduly endanger innocent bystanders.

[usurper]

For Christ's sake, the Border Patrol hired an illegal alien.

Well to be honest the Office of Personnel Management hired him. The Border Patrol does not control hiring. OPM based their background check largely on the Navy’s who consider him a US citizen. Its still completely unacceptable.

[Marine Inspector]

Your hired.

[Marine Inspector]

At our office, instead of the "One Face At The Border", we say "One Joke At The Border". Management hates it, but even they know it's true.

[NoCurrentFreeperByThatName]

CBP and probably the entire DHS is nothing more than a high priced welfare program.

I don't know about you guys w/ the BP, but Customs sure was a good organization before the "merger".

[Marine Inspector]

Customs sure was a good organization before the "merger".

LOL, I beg to differ.

[NoCurrentFreeperByThatName]

LOL, I beg to differ.

Feel free. Who were you primarily dealing with? Agents, Inspectors, AMO?

[Marine Inspector]

Agents and inspectors.

[NoCurrentFreeperByThatName]

Gotcha... I can't speak for Inspectors, but the SAs and AMO folks I have dealt with were awesome. Our little section doesn't support border enforcement too much though. Its more of the legacy Customs AMO mission and SAs doing their thing.