Border agent sentenced to 5 years for letting migrants into U.S.

AP on Bakersfield Californian ^ | 2/15/07 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

A former border inspector was sentenced Thursday to five years in federal prison for guiding hundreds of illegal immigrants through his checkpoint booth in exchange for taking at least $70,000 from a smuggling ring.

Michael Anthony Gilliland, a 44-year-old former Marine and 16-year border agent, pleaded guilty in September to letting illegal immigrants through San Diego's Otay Mesa port of entry in exchange for bribes.

Gilliland and five others coordinated smuggling operations and deliberately failed to record vehicles that ferried immigrants through border lanes under his supervision, according to court documents. He was arrested in June.

Four other co-conspirators have been sentenced to shorter prison terms their roles in the ring. A fifth co-conspirator, Aurora Torres Lopez, is scheduled to be sentenced later in the month.

Gilliland was also ordered to pay $200,000 in fines.

Prosecutors said Gilliland had taken between $70,000 and $120,000 from Torres and her group since 2004.

Wiretaps described in court documents recorded Gilliland, who worked the graveyard shift, speaking in code with Torres and another female accomplice about his schedule and how many immigrants would be coming through his lane.

Gilliland has been under house arrest, monitored by an electronic ankle bracelet, since posting $750,000 bond earlier this summer.

U.S. District Court Judge John A. Houston ordered Gilliland to surrender March 16.

Customs and Border Protection has seen a number of corruption cases recently.

Another San Diego border inspector, Richard Elizalda, pleaded guilty to one count of accepting bribes as a public official and two counts of bringing illegal aliens into the country for financial gain. Prosecutors said he sent text messages directing drivers to his inspection lane at the San Ysidro border crossing and then waved them through.

He faces up to 35 years in prison and $820,000 in fines.

[Spunky]

"....now this guy is going to prison for NOT stopping them.."

He is only going to prison for the $70,000 bribe. If he hadn't taken that all would be fine.

[Huntress]

That's an awful lot of transcripts to read. Could you be more specific?

[Sender]

Actionable indeed. However you and I would be put away for 20 or 30 years for letting them in or keeping them out. We're supposed to keep shopping.

[gubamyster]

ping

[PRND21]

That's an awful lot of transcripts to read. Could you be more specific?

The two agents are not convicted felons "because they tried to STOP a drug runner,".
They were convicted for obstruction and other charges.

[Onelifetogive]

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

That what TJ would recommend...

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Dammit! If anyone is going to be making a buck on the import of illegal aliens into the US...it's going to be the federal Gubmint and the Lords and Barons who sit in Congress!
Not some enterprising Border Patrol grunt who thinks he can just usurp a natural resource that has already been laid claim to by Washington. This is outrageous.

[jmc813]

hang on..two guys are in prison because they tried to STOP a drug runner,

False.

You and two other guys are the only ones on that thread you linked who would come to that conclusion.

[Dr. Marten]

ONLY 5 YEARS!??

[angelsonmyside]

ping

[ansel12]

"hang on..two guys are in prison because they tried to STOP a drug runner,
False.

You and two other guys are the only ones on that thread you linked who would come to that conclusion"




I hope you are counting me as one of the law and order three, if not, then add me to the total.

[PRND21]

You and two other guys are the only ones on that thread you linked who would come to that conclusion.

The jury came to the same conclusion. See convictions.
No mention of guilty of "because they tried to STOP a drug runner,".

[Marine Inspector]

As far as I'm concerned the fines and punishment should be far harsher for people who use their positions to do exactly the opposite of what their jobs require.

Agreed.

[nopardons]

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....the facts don't matter to some; just the cause celebre.

[cmiller623]

Did you take the time to read these or you just repeating your old theories? The government is dead wrong in this case. Lots of reasons to support that conclusion. Do you think Congressmen might a bit more than you do on this case?? I think Duncan Hunter and Rohrbacher understand that the Bush Admin is slime in this case. To do the Mexican Government's bidding?? Makes no sense.

[PRND21]

Did you take the time to read these

Yes. Have you?

I think Duncan Hunter and Rohrbacher understand that the Bush Admin is slime in this case.

Ridiculous.
Hunter, Rohrbacher and Bush weren't on the jury, btw.

[surely_you_jest]

Damned if they do and damned if they don't!!

In case anyone had doubts, this and the two BP agents sentencing for shooting at the guy trying to sneak drugs in is clear proof that our own government is trying to wreck the BP and force so many defections NO ONE will join or serve in the BP or on the border!!!

With respect, you may be missing the point.

When there are distinctly different results, for not apparent reason, in areas where large amounts of money are changing hands (smuggling of illegals and of drugs), it is time to start suspecting that government officials have become corrupted.

[PRND21]

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....the facts don't matter to some; just the cause celebre.

Ironic, many of the same people that are shilling for the felonious agents are bad mouthing Rudy for being "liberal".
The law matters.