FORMER CBP OFFICER SENTENCED FOR BRIBERY

(BROWNSVILLE, Texas) - Javier Cavazos, 50, of Los Fresnos, Texas, has been sentenced to 19 months in federal prison for  bribery, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today. Cavazos previously pleaded guilty to the charges on Jan. 6, 2010. 

According to the plea agreement, Cavazos, while employed as a CBP officer, accepted money from co-defendant David De La Fuente in exchange for providing admission stamps on a passport and form 1-94W to an individual who had not properly presented himself for admission into the U.S. and who had been previously deported. De La Fuente met with Cavazos at a residence in Brownsville, one day prior to the alien’s arrival at the port of entry, where he provided Cavazos with the alien’s passport. Cavazos would place admission stamps on the documents which were returned to De La Fuente who then delivered it to the alien in Mexico. Entry into the United States was accomplished when the alien would present the pre-stamped documents to Cavazos while he was working at a Brownsville port of entry.
 
Previously released on bond, Cavazos was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Bureau of Prisons facility to be designated in the near future. He will also serve a three-year-term of supervised release following completion of his prison term.

De La Fuente also pleaded guilty to bribery on Jan. 6, 2010, and is scheduled for sentencing on June 3, 2010, at 1:30 p.m. before United States District Judge Hilda Tagle.

This case was investigated by Immigration and Custom Enforcement - Office of Professional Responsibility and Customs and Border Protection - Internal Affairs. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bill Hagen.

 

 

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