Former Border Patrol Agents Charged With Smuggling Aliens Are Arrested In Mexico

San Diego, CA - Two former United States Border Patrol (BP) agents, Raul Villarreal and Fidel Villarreal, as well as Claudia Gonzalez and Armando Garcia, have been charged in an 18-count indictment. On October 18, 2008, former BP agents Raul and Fidel Villarreal were arrested, along with Armando Garcia and Claudia Gonzalez, in Tijuana, Mexico, pursuant to provisional arrest warrants based on felony charges pending in United States District Court for the Southern District of California. All defendants are charged with conspiracy to bring in illegal aliens for financial gain, multiple counts of bringing in illegal aliens for financial gain, conspiracy to launder money, conspiracy to tamper with a witness, witness tampering, and criminal forfeiture. The Villarreals are charged with receiving bribes by public officials; Armando Garcia and Claudia Gonzalez are also charged with bribery of a public official. According to the indictment, the defendants ran an alien smuggling organization to bring illegal aliens into the United States from Mexico for money. Claudia Gonzalez and Armando Garcia allegedly bribed BP agents Raul Villarreal and Fidel Villarreal not to perform their duties of enforcing the immigration laws of the United States. The indictment alleges that on multiple occasions in 2005 and 2006, Armando Garcia led groups of aliens into the United States by walking them across the border at locations other than the ports of entry. Raul Villarreal and Fidel Villarreal then picked up the aliens using their official Border Patrol vehicles and released the aliens in furtherance of their illegal entry into the United States. The Villarreals are also charged with conspiring with Claudia Gonzalez and Armando Garcia to launder money and tamper with witnesses. DEFENDANTS: Raul Villarreal, Age: 39, Tijuana Fidel Villarreal, Age: 40, Tijuana Armando Garcia, Age: 40, Tijuana Claudia Gonzalez, Age: 32, Tijuana The United States will seek the defendants extradition to the United States to stand trial on the charges in the indictment. SUMMARY OF CHARGES: Conspiracy to Bring in Illegal Aliens for Financial Gain Title 18, United States Code, 371 Maximum penalties: 5 years imprisonment and $250,000 fine Bringing in illegal aliens for financial gain Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1324(a)(2)(B)(ii) Maximum penalties: 10 years imprisonment and $250,000 fine Bribery Title 18, United States Code, Sections 201(b)(2)(A) and (C) Maximum penalties: 15 years imprisonment and greater of $250,000 fine or three times the amount of the bribe Conspiracy To Launder Money Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1956(a)(2)(A) and (h) Maximum penalties: 20 years imprisonment and greater of $500,000 fine or twice the value of the funds Conspiracy To Tamper with a Witness Title 18, United States Code, Section 1512(k) Maximum penalties: 10 years imprisonment and $250,000 fine Witness Tampering Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1512(a)(3)(C) Maximum penalties: 10 years imprisonment and $250,000 fine Criminal Forfeiture Title 18, United States Code, Section 982(a)(1) Maximum penalties: Forfeiture of proceeds. An indictment itself is not evidence that the defendants committed the crimes charged. The defendants are presumed innocent until the Government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.