BajaNomad

see? there are piles of dung on both sides of the border!

woody with a view - 9-25-2010 at 02:23 PM

A U.S. border inspector was charged Friday with taking more than $50,000 to wave drug-laden vehicles from Mexico through his lane.

Oscar Osbaldo Ortiz Martinez, a Customs and Border Protection officer since 2008, allegedly took $22,000 in June for allowing a Jeep Cherokee that he believed was carrying cocaine to pass through his booth at the border crossing in downtown Calexico, about 120 miles east of San Diego.

Ortiz, 30, took $30,000 for waving through a Ford Lobo he believed to be packed with drugs on Monday, according to the complaint. He was arrested Thursday after allegedly accepting the money from an informant in a Lucky's supermarket parking lot in neighboring El Centro.

Ortiz, of El Centro, was charged with bribery, conspiracy and attempting to import cocaine and methamphetamine. If convicted of any of those charges, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Victor Manuel Silva, 30, was charged with the same crimes for allegedly taking bribes to facilitate the crossings.

According to the complaint, Silva, also of El Centro, introduced the informant to Ortiz at an El Centro parking lot in October 2009.

Neither defendant had an attorney listed in court filings. They are scheduled to appear in court Tuesday to determine if they are eligible for bail.

cabo3100 - 9-25-2010 at 02:26 PM

That will start a fire within

Bajahowodd - 9-25-2010 at 02:28 PM

Think this is the only dirty agent on our side? We've always cut Mexicans a break owing to the fact that their law enforcement is paid pitiable wages. But fact is that even on a decent US government salary, the amount of money that can be thrown around by the cartels could probably make a sinner out of a saint.

woody with a view - 9-25-2010 at 03:17 PM

maybe, but the POS wasn't named Larry James...... or Steven Johnson...... get it?

Cypress - 9-25-2010 at 03:20 PM

Get what?:?:

DavidE - 9-25-2010 at 03:29 PM

Ugly but true, an overwheming percentage of CBP personnel caught doing stuff like this have hispanic names. I feel that the (obviously present) presence of drug gang members on the USA side approach and contact these guys more easily because for instance of an acquaintance of a family member or relative. Jose Fulano visiting a special agent McCoy would certainly stand out a lot more than an Espinosa.

Sure wrong is wrong, but please keep the above in mind as well.

Bajahowodd - 9-25-2010 at 03:56 PM

I really just hate to believe this stuff. It's one thing to have a Hispanic name. It's also another thing to have relatives at risk. Just have to believe that the vetting process for the Border Patrol and Immigration Agents should discover potential conflicts.

Seems like what we are asked to believe is that some yokel from Kansas with a European surname is less likely to fall prey to the largesse of the cartels. I don't know. It just seems to me that this same sort of profiling is uncomfortable similar to what we are doing with Muslims.

woody with a view - 9-25-2010 at 04:01 PM

except muslims will cut your head off if you burn a book..... if you're smart you will watch them carefully.

Bajahowodd - 9-25-2010 at 04:10 PM

Oh, come on Woody. What you are referring to are the extremists. A minority. It not so different than looking at the extremes of other major world religions. Does the scarlet letter ring a bell? Just having a hard time believing that folks wish to paint Muslims with such a broad brush. There are plenty of crazies who espouse Christianity.

woody with a view - 9-25-2010 at 04:14 PM

i agree. religion is the cause of 90% of the world's problems.

i prefer to keep my eyes peeled, and head attached.

edit: foto

[Edited on 9-26-2010 by woody with a view]

100924beheadislam.jpg - 5kB

Woooosh - 9-25-2010 at 04:24 PM

This nothing new. Every year a few of these guys get caught. They'll claim the narcos threaten to kill their families and they have to comply and take the money- but I've never heard of one of them giving all that money to charity, not even a Mexican one. Hang 'em.

wessongroup - 9-25-2010 at 04:41 PM

These guys are really green... they "didn't have a lawyer"..... my, my..

Bajahowodd - 9-25-2010 at 05:27 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by woody with a view
i agree. religion is the cause of 90% of the world's problems.

i prefer to keep my eyes peeled, and head attached.

edit: foto

[Edited on 9-26-2010 by woody with a view]


I'm good with that. History is replete with holy wars. What totally confuses me is that in the 21st century, we appear to headed into yet another holy war. Just really don't know if the Bushies, as fundamental as they are, were not just heading down that same path. Troubles me.

mcfez - 9-25-2010 at 06:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Quote:
Originally posted by woody with a view
i agree. religion is the cause of 90% of the world's problems.

i prefer to keep my eyes peeled, and head attached.

edit: foto

[Edited on 9-26-2010 by woody with a view]


I'm good with that. History is replete with holy wars. What totally confuses me is that in the 21st century, we appear to headed into yet another holy war. Just really don't know if the Bushies, as fundamental as they are, were not just heading down that same path. Troubles me.


Our ignorance of history makes us libel our own times. People have always been like this

woody with a view - 9-25-2010 at 07:12 PM

and our govt wants us bickering about this crap to keep the fires from under their rears....

bent-rim - 9-26-2010 at 12:12 AM

Lots of countries place government personnel in parts of the country far from where they're from, to prevent mixed loyaties and corruption.

Bajajorge - 9-26-2010 at 08:40 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by wessongroup
These guys are really green... they "didn't have a lawyer"..... my, my..



The cartel will supply one.