Two American border inspectors accused of accepting bribes to allow individuals without proper documents to enter the country

SAN DIEGO — Prosecutors have announced that two U.S. border inspectors in Southern California have been accused of accepting bribes totaling thousands of dollars to permit individuals to cross into the country through the busiest port of entry without proper documentation.

The officers in question, Farlis Almonte and Ricardo Rodriguez of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, worked at the San Ysidro Port of Entry and were arrested following an investigation that revealed incriminating phone messages exchanged with human traffickers in Mexico and unexplained cash deposits into their bank accounts, according to a recently unsealed criminal complaint.

Prosecutors cited surveillance footage capturing an incident where a vehicle with a driver and a passenger appeared to have only the driver’s entry documented, raising suspicions about illicit activities occurring at the checkpoint.

Prosecutors said the officers waved dozens of vehicles carrying people without documents. They said both men were paid thousands for each vehicle they waved through.

It wasn’t immediately known if Almonte has an attorney who can speak on his behalf. The National Border Patrol Council, the union representing Border Patrol officers, didn’t immediately return an email seeking comment.

Rodriguez’s attorney, Michael Hawkins, said the case was still in the “infant stages” and that Rodriguez has the presumption of innocence.

“We look forward to working through the current situation,” Hawkins said in an email in which he described Rodriguez as hardworking and loyal.

The investigation on Almonte and Rodriguez started after three migrant smugglers who were arrested last year told federal investigators they had been working with U.S. border inspectors, federal prosecutors said.

While Almonte was in custody, investigators allegedly seized nearly $70,000 in cash they believe his romantic partner was trying to move to Tijuana. Prosecutors wrote in a court filing that Almonte is potentially facing additional charges for money laundering and obstruction of justice, The San Diego Union Tribune reported.

“Any Customs and Border Protection agent who aids or turns a blind eye to smugglers bringing undocumented immigrants into the U.S. is betraying their oath and endangering our national security,” Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden told the newspaper in a statement.

There have been five U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers assigned to the San Diego area to face similar corruption charges in the last two years.

Last year, former U.S. border inspector Leonard Darnell George was sentenced to 23 years in prison for taking bribes to allow people and drug-laden vehicles to enter the country through the San Ysidro border crossing. Two other former border officers at the Otay Mesa and Tecate ports of entry were charged last year with similar charges. They are expected to go on trial this summer.