Former Border Patrol Agent Sentenced To More Than Six Years In Prison For Taking Bribes From Cartel

A former Border Patrol agent has been sentenced to more than six years in prison for taking bribes from cartel operatives.

Border Report detailed that Jorge Jimenez allowed vehicles loaded with drugs to enter the country without inspection at a checkpoint in southern Arizona. He got around $20,000 for every time he allowed vehicles in and has now been sentenced to 78 months in prison.

"Between June and September 2024, Jimenez waived through at least five vehicles laden with 60 kilos of cocaine," federal prosecutors claimed in court.

"This sentence demonstrates that anyone, regardless of authority, will be held accountable if they seek to profit from drug trafficking. I am proud of the District of Arizona and the many United States Border Patrol Agents who protect our southern border every day," said U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona Timothy Courchaine said.

Jimenez told traffickers which lane to go to at his check points and informed them if drug-sniffing dogs were on duty. At least once he told operatives that drugs had successfully entered the U.S.

Several such cases have been reported over the past months. Earlier this week another former CBP agent was sentenced to 15 years in prison for letting cars filled with methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl into the U.S.

Concretely, Diego Bonillo admitted to working for a Mexico-based cartel and letting the cars through the San Ysidro Port of Entry.

Agents found out that the then-agent told smugglers which lanes he was assigned to so they would enter the country through them. He allowed at least 15 cars into the U.S., and used the benefits to travel, buy luxury items and buy property in Mexico.

"He weaponized his badge for personal profit, funneling deadly narcotics through a port of entry and putting communities at risk. Corruption like this will be met with the full force of the law — and we will not hesitate to pursue and punish those who trade duty for dollars," said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon.

Last month, another former CBP agent was slapped with several charges, including bribery, human smuggling and drug-trafficking.

Concretely, Manuel Perez of El Paso admitted taking part in several conspiracies that spanned several years. The main ones involved human smuggling and the trafficking of "large quantities of cocaine."

Border Report detailed that Perez entered a guilty plea in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Court documents show the then-agent began his involvement in the conspiracies in November 2019 and continued until February this year.