SAN DIEGO ( FOX 5/KUSI) — It’s off to prison for a former U. S. Border Patrol agent who admitted to taking money to bring meth and people across the U. S. -Mexico borders.
According to U. S. lawyer Tara McGrath’s company, Hector Hernandez, 55, was handed an 87-month jail remain in federal court Friday after he pleaded guilty to the atrocities back in January.
Court documents note Hernandez admitted that he agreed to use his recognized place to start southern border gates and let unauthorised newcomers to enter the country. On top of that, Hernandez even agreed to move meth and another controlled substances from Southern California to different locations in the U. S.
In his plea agreement, the original Border Patrol agent even acknowledged he took Mexico-based pirates on a tour of the southern border, showing them the “best sites ” to walk unauthorised immigrants into the U. S. He also admitted to providing pirates information about the location of tracking tools and cameras.
Lastly, Hernandez admitted that he opened restricted border fences on several occasions to allow people to illegally enter the country in exchange for cash payments of$ 5,000 per opening, court records show.
“Agent Hernandez disgraced his emblem when he chose to bring both drugs and people across the border, ” said DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Chrysanthis. “His statement reflects the injury he caused his colleagues and his land. As law enforcement we are held to a higher regular, and we must be held responsible for our activities. ”
Hernandez was caught after he met with an undercover federal adviser and agreed to pick up a backpack full of cocaine that would be hidden near the border gate, the attorney’s department explained.
U. S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino said in court Friday, “Border Patrol is an honorable and admirable agency of the Government sworn to protect and safeguard our borders … [ Hernandez ] chose to betray the agency, the nation and betray public trust. ”
