An alleged human smuggler now faces additional federal charges of attempting to bribe a U.S. Border Patrol agent. The alleged bribery happened after a Santa Teresa, New Mexico, Station agent arrested the Mexican national for illegally re-entering the United States after removal.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico revealed that El Paso Sector Border Patrol agents arrested 29-year-old Samuel Mendoza-Torres and another migrant near Santa Teresa on February 8, a Department of Justice statement reported. While transporting the two illegal aliens to the station, Mendoza-Torres allegedly asked, “Can we fix this?” He then allegedly offered the agent $400 for his release.
During a subsequent interview with Border Patrol agents, the Mexican nationals reportedly admitted to escorting a group of migrants from Mexico into the U.S. Prosecutors state Mendoza-Torres admitted to agents that he knew offering a bribe to Border Patrol agents was illegal…