A U.S. Customs and Border Safety officer has been charged in an indictment unsealed Monday with allegedly accepting bribes to permit drug-laden automobiles throughout the U.S.-Mexico border.
Leonard Darnell George is charged together with a number of others with conspiracy to import and conspiracy to distribute managed substances, in line with the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace in San Diego. George is individually charged with receiving bribes, the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace mentioned.
“The indictment alleges that Officer George broke the very drug trafficking legal guidelines that he was alleged to implement,” San Diego U.S. Legal professional Randy Grossman mentioned in an announcement.
Prosecutors allege George took “gadgets of worth” in return for letting automobiles carrying medication into the nation. Others charged within the indictment allegedly coordinated the smuggling of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine and heroin from Mexico into the U.S.
“The overwhelming majority of CBP officers are extremely expert, hard-working professionals devoted to our mission of defending the American public and we don’t stand for people who would tarnish our badge,” mentioned Sidney Aki, director of area operations for CBP in San Diego. “The San Diego Area Workplace will cooperate absolutely because the case proceeds.”
George is because of seem in San Diego federal courtroom for a detention listening to on Thursday.
