San Diego (AP) – Two customs and border protection officials argue this month guilty of allowing vehicles full of illegal drugs to enter the US from Mexico, the federal prosecutors said Monday.
The pair of texting 'a secret emoji-based code' to let Mexican human traffickers know what inspection tracks they man at the Tecate and Otay Mesa border transitions, said the American attorney's office in a statement. Public prosecutors said that when the vehicles loaded with drugs arrived, the officers would swing through.
Officers Jesse Clark Garcia, 37, and Diego Bonillo, 30, each argues guilty of multiple charges, including conspiracy for importing regulated substances such as cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin, says the explanation.
As part of his plea, Bonillo admitted that he allowed at least 165 pounds (75 kilograms) of fentanyl to enter the country, said prosecutors.
The defendants “benefited conveniently, financed both domestic and international journeys, as well as purchases of luxury items and attempts to buy real estate in Mexico,” says the statement.
The conviction of Garcia is planned for September 26 and Bonillo will be convicted on November 7. They can each get a maximum life sentence, said prosecutors.
