Border Agent Pleads Guilty to Accepting Cash to Allow Illegal Immigrant Smuggling
Friday , September 15, 2006
Asssociated Press
SAN DIEGO — A former border inspector pleaded guilty Thursday to accepting cash bribes and luxury cars in exchange for allowing smugglers to sneak hundreds of illegal immigrants from Mexico into the country.
Richard Elizalda, 55, a 10-year veteran border inspector for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, admitted to one count of accepting bribes as a public official and two counts of bringing illegal aliens into the country for financial gain.
He was originally charged with 15 counts.
Elizalda sent text messages directing drivers to his inspection lane at the San Ysidro border crossing and then waved them through, Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Frakes said in San Diego federal court.
In return, Elizalda received as much as $1,000 for each immigrant, taking as much as $120,000 in cash from smugglers starting in 2004 until his arrest in June, Frakes said. Agents seized $36,170 in cash from Elizalda's home, along with a 2000 Lexus and a 2005 BMW given to him by the ringleaders of the smuggling ring.
He faces up to 35 years in prison and $820,000 in fines.
Elizalda said little in court. Asked by U.S. Magistrate Judge William McCurine, Jr., how he pleaded, he replied in a quiet voice, "Guilty."
Also Thursday, another defendant in the indictment, Kenneth Web, pleaded guilty to one count of bringing illegal aliens into the United States. Frakes said he worked as a smuggler, bringing as many as 99 immigrants into the country without documentation.
He faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison and $250,000 in fines.
Customs and Border Protection has seen a number of instances of corruption recently. In July, a Border Patrol agent who was an illegal immigrant himself was sentenced to five years in prison for smuggling more than 100 illegal immigrants into the U.S. from Mexico near San Diego, some of them in his government truck.
Dominoes- 09-15-2006
Why are we (The American Taxpayer) responsible for rebuilding Lebanon of all places? This countrys' infrastructure is falling apart, a huge recession is hanging over our heads with energy costs, most of our industrial capacity has been moved overseas, we are suffering from unrestricted immigration and a very large part of the population is poor, uneducated and committed to crime to survive this society and we are actually giving money to our enemies?
It'll come to you when you look at a map of the major oil pipelines running to sea ports. The Bush is merely offering to bribe the cretins with tax dollars instead of these corporations having to take it out of the company coffee money change.
BEDSPREAD- 09-17-2006
Why are we (The American Taxpayer) responsible for rebuilding Lebanon of all places? This countrys' infrastructure is falling apart, a huge recession is hanging over our heads with energy costs, most of our industrial capacity has been moved overseas, we are suffering from unrestricted immigration and a very large part of the population is poor, uneducated and committed to crime to survive this society and we are actually giving money to our enemies?
It'll come to you when you look at a map of the major oil pipelines running to sea ports. The Bush is merely offering to bribe the cretins with tax dollars instead of these corporations having to take it out of the company coffee money change.
:idea:
I think you are correct. Big Oil shows billions in profits and our government shows billions in deficit. I think you found the answer... :D
BEDSPREAD- 09-20-2006
Six Inmates on the Loose After Jailbreak in South Texas
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Associated Press
LA VILLA, Texas — Authorities searched overnight for six federal inmates who escaped a South Texas jail by overpowering a guard and cutting through at least four fences, officials said.
Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino said the six men escaped at about 11:30 p.m. CDT Tuesday from the East Hidalgo Detention Center, a privately operated jail in La Villa, about 20 miles north of the Mexican border.
The Sheriff's Office was leading a search involving more than 60 officers, including local officers as well federal agents from the Border Patrol andU.S. Marshals Service, Trevino said. Helicopters and bloodhounds were being used in the search.
"We're considering all six individuals very dangerous and armed," Trevino said.
He said the search was focused on an approximately 4-square-mile area.
Trevino said he didn't know whether the prison guard who was overpowered by the escapees suffered any injuries.
Trevino said one of the escapees was an American being held on drug charges. He said the five others were Mexican nationals thought to be members of a criminal gang known as "Raza Unida."
zigzag- 09-20-2006
Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Carl Rusnok said agents believe Rubi-Nava is an illegal immigrant from Mexico. nut case news story here Neighbors discovered the woman's body before dawn. Her face was unrecognizable and an orange tow rope was around her neck, said Nancy Foley, who lives nearby.
An autopsy indicated the woman died of asphyxiation and head injuries from being dragged.
The trail of blood led from Interstate 25 to the woman's body,
he might just be from Texas :shock:
BEDSPREAD- 09-25-2006
Canadian Border Guards Flee After 'Dangerous' Traveler Warni Monday , September 25, 2006
Disassociated Depressed
BLAINE, Wash. — Four Canadian border crossings were shut down Sunday as about 60 of Canada's unarmed border guards walked off the job after they were warned that a person classified as "armed and dangerous" may be headed into Canada.
The walkouts — permitted when the guards perceive threats to their personal safety — began mid-afternoon and stalled northbound border traffic for hours.
Canada's national CTV News said the walkout was triggered by a report from Homeland Security officials in the U.S. who told the Royal Canadian Mounted Police that a suspected killer from California, considered armed and dangerous, might try to enter Canada.
Willie Hicks, branch chief for trade operations on the U.S. side, said the Canadians told him only that they'd been alerted that such a person may be en route.
Faith St. John, an official with the Canada Border Services Agency, told CTV that management staff has been called in to deal with the huge backlog of cars and trucks waiting to cross into Canada. "As more managers arrive, more lanes will be opened," she said.
By about 8:30 p.m., southbound traffic was flowing smoothly and northbound traffic was beginning to move, Hicks said.
Affected crossings were at the Peace Arch Park, for Interstate 5 and State Route 99; the Blaine truck crossing, for state routes 543 and 15l; Sumas, for state routes 9 and 11; and Lynden, for State Route 539.
There have been several such walkouts since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
In August, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Canada's border guards will be armed starting in September 2007.
Harper said it would take 10 years to fully implement the plan. The government will have at least 150 officers with sidearms deployed by the end of March 2008, Harper said at a news conference at one of the border crossing south of Vancouver, British Columbia.
7-Eleven to End Relationship with Venezuela-Backed Citgo Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Disassociated And Depressed
DALLAS — Convenience store operator 7-Eleven Inc. is dropping Venezuela-backed Citgo as its gasoline supplier at more than 2,100 locations and switching to its own brand of fuel.
The retailer said Wednesday it will purchase fuel from several distributors, including Tower Energy Group of Torrance, Calif., Sinclair Oil of Salt Lake City, and Houston-based Frontier Oil Corp.
A spokeswoman for Dallas-based 7-Eleven said its 20-year contract with Citgo Petroleum Corp. ends next week. About 2,100 of 7-Eleven's 5,300 U.S. stores sell gasoline.
Citgo is a Houston-based subsidiary of Venezuela's state-owned oil company, and the foreign parent became a public-relations issue for 7-Eleven because of comments by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
Chavez has called President George W. Bush the devil and an alcoholic. The U.S. government has warned that Chavez is a destabilizing force in Latin America.
7-Eleven spokesman Margaret Chabris said that, "Regardless of politics, we sympathize with many Americans' concern over derogatory comments about our country and its leadership recently made by Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez."
Chabris said a boycott of Citgo gasoline would hurt the 4,000 employees of the U.S. subsidiary, who have no connection to Venezuela.
7-Eleven had been considering creating its own brand of fuel since at least early last year. Company officials said at the time they had spoken with independent fuel distributors.
BEDSPREAD COMMUNICATIONS AND USED TRUCK SALES OFFICIAL COMMENTARY
Although the MOE-RON may have a valid personal view of our Supreme Fearless Leader... :roll:
He needs to keep his mouth shut. Too much Acapulco Gold... :P
chicken hauler- 09-27-2006
"He needs to keep his mouth shut. Too much Acapulco Gold..."
I know that you freighthaulers, with your fancy motel rooms every night, never did drugs, but take it from me, you don't have to be 'stoned' to state the obvious about Dubya.....
Chavez is sitting on more oil than Canada and when the strung out oil junky comes staggering out of the middle east (ass in hand), the junky might be smart to find a dealer closer to home.
BEDSPREAD COMMUNICATIONS & FARMALL SALES should keep its' mouth shut. Too much beer and bennies..... :P
.
BEDSPREAD- 09-28-2006
I know that you freighthaulers, with your fancy motel rooms every night, never did drugs, but take it from me, you don't have to be 'stoned' to state the obvious about Dubya.....
Uh...Sgt. Preston...
I was speaking of Chavez...and I have never taken a bennie in my life. Don't need them when you have a regular driving job... :D
sixthwheel- 09-28-2006
Looks like CH is once again confused....what a shock.. :roll:
chicken hauler- 09-28-2006
"I was speaking of Chavez...and I have never taken a bennie in my life."
Yes, of course.....and you were suggesting Chavez was smoking too much "Acapulco Gold" which led to his candid characterization of Bush....duh!?!?
Actually the reference I made was to give you another opportunity to let the peanut gallery know why you are a humourless old cuss. Some people around here think you know EVERYTHING there is to know about trucking. I see 'the dark side' still eludes you......
Anyway, my point about the geo-politics of oil, the lifeblood of the industry you are attempting to affect(in some way??) was as usual, ignored that you might instead re-affirm what a complete professional you are. Why don't you post that picture of you with your hat on backwards....?? That'll bring the locals to their feet......!!!! :P :P
Sixthgrade: STFU!!! BEDSPREAD can't stand you, either.....
.
sixthwheel- 09-28-2006
Sixthgrade: STFU!!! BEDSPREAD can't stand you, either.....
you actually think I give a shit ?..Oh boy, people I've never met, cant stand me...how awful.. :(
You must be a hellava loser if you're worried about shit like that... :?
BEDSPREAD- 09-29-2006
"I was speaking of Chavez...and I have never taken a bennie in my life."
Yes, of course.....and you were suggesting Chavez was smoking too much "Acapulco Gold" which led to his candid characterization of Bush....duh!?!?
Actually the reference I made was to give you another opportunity to let the peanut gallery know why you are a humourless old cuss. Some people around here think you know EVERYTHING there is to know about trucking. I see 'the dark side' still eludes you......
Yes, I am a Humorless Old Cuss and damn proud of it. I have seen so much SHIAT in my lifetime (trucking being one of the largst) that I do have a bad attitude. Over the past few years, it has calmed somewhat due to advancing age and the realization that One Cannot Polish A Turd.
Never anywheres did I say I was pretty.
chicken hauler- 09-29-2006
"Over the past few years, it has calmed somewhat due to advancing age and the realization that One Cannot Polish A Turd."
Too soon old, too late smart. Is that what "...a regular driving job." gets you...???
And where did you see all this 'shiat'.....???? You never did drugs, never drove tired or outside of the regulations.......you've probably never had an hallucination...either from using drugs or NOT using them. Did you spend 20 years trying to 'polish turds' before you realized it couldn't be done...???
Did you and Ziggy lie awake at night telling each other horror stories about having to sleep in a truck...???? Did the mere mention of having to fill your trailer with ONE product and delivering it to ONE customer 2000 miles away have you vomiting with fear...???
And did the morning light and, across the table Ziggy's boyish glow, convince you it was all the Mexicans fault...???.....or the teachers??? Where exactly did you witness all this "shiat"......
It's entirely possible that when people saw you driving your farmall with your ballcap turned backwards, they were unable to control their rage and flung everything within reach at you. I know I would have. :P
I think you were born with " a bad attitude". Zigs' failed marriage with Werner has just made it worse because it's all you ever talk about anymore. And now, as you cuddle and do all those unmentionable things with your fingers.............................................................................
.............................like pointing them at Mexicans and other assorted boogeymen, are you comforted knowing that your bond with Zig will one day be accepted in mainstream society...???
"Humorless"....does that mean 'not gay'????
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