Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Ex-US Customs Officer Convicted of Letting Drug-Filled Cars Enter from Mexico
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 5 months ago on
June 13, 2024

Former officer found guilty of accepting bribes for drug trafficking. (Shutterstock)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

LOS ANGELES — A former U.S. Customs officer has been convicted of accepting bribes to let drug-filled vehicles into the United States from Mexico, giving traffickers a one-hour window to reach his lane at a San Diego border crossing and pocketing at least $13,000 per vehicle, officials said Thursday.

Prosecutors say Leonard Darnell George, a Customs and Border Protection officer working for two separate criminal organizations, allowed at least 19 crossings between late 2021 to June 2022. The vehicles contained several hundred pounds of methamphetamine as well as smaller amounts of cocaine, fentanyl and heroin, and also people being brought into the country illegally, according to court documents.

Text messages obtained by investigators showed George agreed to let cars through for $17,000 per vehicle, and one message showed he received $68,000 after letting through four vehicles from drug traffickers in June 2022.

George’s attorney, Antonio Yoon, did not immediately respond to emails and voicemail seeking comment.

Conviction and Charges

George was convicted by a federal jury in U.S. District Court in San Diego on Monday of taking a bribe by a public official, conspiracy to import controlled substances, and two counts of allowing vehicles with unauthorized individuals to enter the country.

“Abandoning the integrity of the uniform for the conspiracy of drug trafficking is a path to a criminal conviction,” said U.S. Attorney Tara K. McGrath in a statement.

Use of Bribe Money and Sentencing

Witnesses testified that George used the money to buy vehicles, motorcycles and jewelry, and also spent lavishly at a strip club in Tijuana.

His sentencing hearing is set for Sept. 13. The maximum penalty for his charges range from 10 years to life in prison.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Chargers Defense Ready for Challenge of Facing High-Powered Bengals Offense

DON'T MISS

Bills QB Allen Dismisses Comparisons to Mahomes, 0-3 in Playoffs Against Chiefs Star

DON'T MISS

New FDA Rules for TV Drug Ads: Simpler Language and No Distractions

DON'T MISS

LeBron James Has Third Straight Triple-Double as Lakers Rally for Victory Over Grizzlies

DON'T MISS

Fresno State Falls to UC Santa Barbara as Turner Scores 24

DON'T MISS

Human Rights Watch Accuses Israel of War Crimes in Gaza Strip

DON'T MISS

Legislative Analyst Reports on Highs and Lows of UC Merced’s First 20 Years

DON'T MISS

Climate Change Could Bring Disaster or Solutions to San Joaquin Valley

DON'T MISS

Fresno Symposium to Focus on Water’s Impact on Farmland Values

DON'T MISS

Why Trump’s Deportations Will Drive Up Your Grocery Bill

UP NEXT

Bills QB Allen Dismisses Comparisons to Mahomes, 0-3 in Playoffs Against Chiefs Star

UP NEXT

New FDA Rules for TV Drug Ads: Simpler Language and No Distractions

UP NEXT

LeBron James Has Third Straight Triple-Double as Lakers Rally for Victory Over Grizzlies

UP NEXT

Fresno State Falls to UC Santa Barbara as Turner Scores 24

UP NEXT

Human Rights Watch Accuses Israel of War Crimes in Gaza Strip

UP NEXT

Legislative Analyst Reports on Highs and Lows of UC Merced’s First 20 Years

UP NEXT

Climate Change Could Bring Disaster or Solutions to San Joaquin Valley

UP NEXT

Fresno Symposium to Focus on Water’s Impact on Farmland Values

UP NEXT

Why Trump’s Deportations Will Drive Up Your Grocery Bill

UP NEXT

Republicans Win 218 US House Seats, Giving Donald Trump and the Party Control of Government

LeBron James Has Third Straight Triple-Double as Lakers Rally for Victory Over Grizzlies

1 hour ago

Fresno State Falls to UC Santa Barbara as Turner Scores 24

1 hour ago

Human Rights Watch Accuses Israel of War Crimes in Gaza Strip

2 hours ago

Legislative Analyst Reports on Highs and Lows of UC Merced’s First 20 Years

2 hours ago

Climate Change Could Bring Disaster or Solutions to San Joaquin Valley

2 hours ago

Fresno Symposium to Focus on Water’s Impact on Farmland Values

6 hours ago

Why Trump’s Deportations Will Drive Up Your Grocery Bill

6 hours ago

Republicans Win 218 US House Seats, Giving Donald Trump and the Party Control of Government

14 hours ago

Fresno State Alum Is New Dean of Health and Human Services College

18 hours ago

Who Is Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Florida Congressman Donald Trump Picked to Serve as AG?

18 hours ago

Chargers Defense Ready for Challenge of Facing High-Powered Bengals Offense

EL SEGUNDO — Bud Dupree knows the challenge awaiting the Los Angeles Chargers’ defense on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. With ...

24 minutes ago

24 minutes ago

Chargers Defense Ready for Challenge of Facing High-Powered Bengals Offense

25 minutes ago

Bills QB Allen Dismisses Comparisons to Mahomes, 0-3 in Playoffs Against Chiefs Star

51 minutes ago

New FDA Rules for TV Drug Ads: Simpler Language and No Distractions

1 hour ago

LeBron James Has Third Straight Triple-Double as Lakers Rally for Victory Over Grizzlies

1 hour ago

Fresno State Falls to UC Santa Barbara as Turner Scores 24

Palestinians mourn their relatives killed in the Israeli bombardment of Maghazi in the Gaza Strip, during their funeral at a hospital morgue in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (AP/Abdel Kareem Hana)
2 hours ago

Human Rights Watch Accuses Israel of War Crimes in Gaza Strip

2 hours ago

Legislative Analyst Reports on Highs and Lows of UC Merced’s First 20 Years

2 hours ago

Climate Change Could Bring Disaster or Solutions to San Joaquin Valley

Search

Send this to a friend