Latest Legal News from the Criminal Courts in Houston, Texas

April 11, 2007

CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION OFFICER INDICTED FOR SMUGGLING UNDOCUMENTED ALIENS

(LAREDO, TX)– Jose Ramiro Arredondo, 33, a Customs and Border Protection Officer, assigned to the Laredo District Office, has been charged in a five count indictment with conspiracy, three counts of bringing in undocumented aliens and bribery, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today.

Arrested in late March 2006 by agents of the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG), Arredondo was indicted by a Laredo grand jury on Tuesday, April 10, 2007. Arraignment is set for April 19, 2007 and a May 2007 trial date is expected to be set.

The indictment following the filing of a criminal complaint in March 2007. According to allegations in the affidavit in support of the complaint, the DHS-OIG investigation into Arredondo’s alleged illegal conduct began following the arrest on January 9, 2007 of an alien smuggler, who claimed he had been assisted by Arredondo in his efforts to bring undocumented aliens through the port of entry into the United States without inspection on January 9, 2007 and on at least two prior occasions by Arredondo.

According to the complaint, on January 9, 2007 the smuggler accompanied by three (3) undocumented aliens arrived at the Passport Processing lobby area of the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge, Port-of-Entry No. 1 in Laredo, Texas, and acting on the instructions of another sought out Arredondo for assistance to smuggle the aliens into the United States. Arredondo allegedly personally escorted the smuggler and the three undocumented aliens into the pedestrian walkway and concocted a story for primary inspection officers which resulted in the undocumented aliens and the smuggler being permitted to enter the U.S. without further immigration inspection at the primary booth. However, CBP officers at the agricultural inspection station stopped the four for questioning as they were all about to exit the walkway of the port-of-entry, and determined that the three aliens lacked any documentation allowing them entry into the U.S. and that the smuggler was responsible for guiding and bringing them through. Further investigation lead to the alleged identification of Arredondo as having received payment to assisted the smuggler to successfully bring undocumented aliens into the United States without inspection in a similar fashion on two prior occasions – on December 26, 2006 and again the day before his arrest on January 8, 2007.

Conspiracy to bring in undocumented aliens carries a maximum punishment of five years in federal prison. Each of the three substantive offenses of bringing in undocumented aliens for private financial gain carries a mandatory minimum penalty of three years and a maximum 10 years imprisonment upon conviction. Corrupt solicitation and receipt of bribes carries a maximum 15 year prison term upon conviction. All five offenses also carry a maximum fine of $250,000 as possible punishment.

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