San Diego CBP Officer Charged in Bribery Scheme to Let Undocumented Migrants Cross the Border

A third U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer has been indicted in connection with a scheme to allow vehicles carrying undocumented migrants to cross into the United States through the San Ysidro Port of Entry located between San Diego and Tijuana.

The latest charges follow the indictment of two other CBP officers who stand accused of accepting bribes in exchange for facilitating illegal entries. The most recent defendant, Kairy Stephania Quinonez, 31, of Imperial Beach, is not facing bribery charges but is alleged to have participated in the scheme by enabling unauthorized crossings and falsifying records, as NBC 7 in San Diego reported.

According to a federal grand jury indictment, the three CBP officers stationed at inspection booths knowingly allowed dozens of vehicles to pass through the border without proper inspection between August 2023 and January 2024. The officers allegedly coordinated with smugglers by sharing their work schedules and lane assignments, enabling traffickers to time their crossings accordingly.

The agents also made false entries in the CBP database, misreporting the number of vehicle occupants to conceal the presence of undocumented individuals.

The two officers previously charged, Farlis Almonte, 38, of San Diego, and Ricardo Rodriguez, 34, of Tijuana, are accused of accepting thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for their actions. Evidence cited in the case includes bank deposits, surveillance footage, and phone communications with smugglers.

Almonte was further linked to nearly $70,000 in cash seized from his romantic partner, who was allegedly attempting to transport the funds to Mexico. Prosecutors have indicated that additional charges, such as money laundering and obstruction of justice, may be filed in his case.

In response to the charges, CBP San Diego Director of Field Operations Sidney Aki stated that the alleged conduct does not represent the agency's values and affirmed CBP's full cooperation with the investigation. Aki emphasized the importance of public trust and the agency's commitment to ethical conduct and accountability.