Border agent in Douglas admits to helping smuggle 1,000s of pounds of marijuana
A Border Patrol agent in Douglas pleaded guilty to using his position to help smuggle thousands of pounds of marijuana.
Jose Antonio Yanez faces up to 15 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to two drug-smuggling charges and one bribery charge, according to a plea agreement filed April 10 in U.S. District Court in Tucson.
To make up for the loss of his honest services as an agent while working in Douglas and Naco, Yanez agreed to re-pay the Border Patrol his salary and other pay for the years 2014-2016, worth $340,000, according to the plea agreement. He also agreed to pay a $16,000 fine for the bribes he accepted.
As part of his role in the smuggling conspiracy, Yanez used his position as the operator of Border Patrol surveillance cameras in March 2014 to divert attention away from 18 people carrying 1,000 pounds of marijuana in backpacks. He was paid $250 per backpacker, according to the plea agreement.
Read more: https://tucson.com/news/local/border-agent-in-douglas-admits-to-helping-smuggle-s-of/article_43a3665b-af9c-57f2-ac96-7ed25cddb6ca.html