Ex-Border Patrol Agent Pleads Guilty To Accepting Bribes, Smuggling

SAN DIEGO, CA — A former U.S. Border Patrol Agent who accepted bribes and took part in drug and human smuggling attempts pleaded guilty Thursday to federal charges.

Hector Hernandez, 55, of Chula Vista, admitted in a plea agreement to showing smugglers the locations of monitoring devices and cameras along the U.S.-Mexico border where they would best be able to avoid detection during smuggling operations.

Prosecutors say Hernandez also opened restricted border fences at least five separate times to allow migrants through and was paid $5,000 per incident.

Hernandez was arrested last May after agreeing to pick up a bag full of drugs hidden near the border.

For $20,000, prosecutors say Hernandez retrieved the bag from a storm drain and took it to his home.

But the drug trafficker Hernandez brokered the deal with was actually an undercover federal agent, and the bag was actually filled largely with fake methamphetamine, as well as a tracking device. Upon meeting with the undercover agent to hand off the bag, Hernandez was arrested.

A search of his home turned up cocaine and around $140,000 in cash. The U.S. Attorney's Office says Hernandez admitted that at least $110,000 of that amount were made up of drug proceeds or bribes he accepted.

Hernandez is set to be sentenced in April.

"Agent Hernandez betrayed his badge and his country," said San Diego U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath in a statement. "Instead of providing protection from smugglers and drug traffickers, he joined them."

— City News Service