Posted on 03/26/2007 6:16:14 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SAN DIEGO – A former border inspector who accepted more than $70,000 in bribes for allowing illegal immigrants into the country was sentenced to 57 months in prison Monday on bribery and smuggling charges. Richard Elizalda, 56, of Chula Vista, pleaded guilty to bribery and smuggling charges in September 2006. He admitted accepting between $70,000 to $120,000 in cash and automobiles and said he allowed hundreds of illegal immigrants into the country between 2004 and June 2006, when he was arrested.
Before pronouncing the sentence, U.S. District Judge Larry Burns told Elizalda, “You're one of the gatekeepers for the security of the United States and you totally abdicated that. It was a terrible, terrible thing.”
Elizalda apologized to the judge, and to the people of the United States.
“I'm sorry. I know I did something wrong,” he said, his voice breaking down. “I apologize for what I did and I'm ready to pay my sentence.”
Elizalda worked with two women who smuggled immigrants and drugs into the country through the San Ysidro border crossing.
Prosecutors said he had a personal relationship with one of the women.
According to prosecutors, Elizalda used his cell phone to send text messages to indicate to smugglers what traffic lane he would be working. Border inspectors typically aren't told of their assignments until the last minute.
One of the women Elizalda worked with paid him hundreds of dollars per immigrant he helped her smuggle. Authorities said the other woman, Raquel Arin, spilt the proceeds from her smuggling operation with him.
Elizalda and Arin agreed to turn over to the government $15,000 worth of jewelry, $56,000 in cash and two vehicles.
Good. This guy should rot. Ramos and Compean should get a slap on the wrist.
Let's get this right, a treasonous border agent who takes money and brings illegals in gets 6 years, and two agents who stop an illegal from bringing in 750 of marijuana get 12 years? Whoohoo, now I've seen everything.
along with free ammo and range time for life! (gotta work on that one for fifteen sad shooting)
What the hell is going on here???
2 BP agents shoot at an illeagle, and get 10 + years in prison FOR DOING THEIR JOB!!! Now this clown takes bribes, helps 100's of illeagles into this country, and runs drugs, and gets less than 1/2 the sentence of the BP guys.
Something is very wrong with the Justice Dept, Homeland Security, The Administration, Texas, Mexico, Border Patrol!!!!
OK, don't free the BP guys, but at least sentence this guy to 20 years!!!!
He should have been put against the wall and shot. How does he know that the illegal he let in isn't going to put on his vest and take out a school bus full of kids.
don't free the bp guys? why not?
What I meant was. "OK, if you don't want to free the BP agents, I can understand that. They were found guilty by a jury (even if wrong), BUT, don't let this guy go with a smaller sentence.
The whole flipping thing stinks!!!!!
your right, it stinks big time. after what has been going on I wouldn't blame the border patrol guys still trying to do their jobs one bit if they all turned in their badges and weapons and said the hell with it.
This border guard got six years for smuggling in drugs, while Compion and Ramos got 11 & 12 years for stopping a drug smuggler from bringing in drugs. So the way I see this government logic, if Compion and Ramos had stopped this other border guard from smuggling in drugs, they all would have gone to prison. They used to say the wheels of justice grind slowly, now they might say 'the wheels of justice fell off the cart'.
At least I hope we can all agree that THIS border agent should be in jail?
YES!
They deserve the best. Anyone that protects our country from a criminal sneaking into our country to transport drugs - is helping everyone of us! This is one case that is so over the top - it's unbelievable. But, in the last days, evil will be considered good, and good evil.
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