Former CBP officer sentenced to 4 years for bribery, smuggling illegal immigrants

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX) — A former U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer was sentenced to four years in federal prison after admitting to taking bribes and smuggling illegal immigrants for financial gain.

Omar Moreno, 46, of Horizon City, Texas, used his position at the Ysleta Port of Entry in El Paso to facilitate unlawful crossings, accepting thousands of dollars from a smuggling organization before his arrest in an undercover sting operation.

Moreno was sentenced to four years in prison and 80 hours of community service for one count of bribery of a public official and one count of smuggling illegal immigrants for financial gain.

According to court documents, in December 2022, investigating agents received information that Moreno was smuggling illegal immigrants into the United States as a CBP officer, receiving $4,000 per immigrant from a smuggling organization.

On Feb. 1, 2024, a video recording captured Moreno escorting two illegal immigrants, one being a foot guide, into the U.S. through the Ysleta Port of Entry without undergoing an inspection.

On Feb. 23, 2024, two undercover officers posed as illegal immigrants and used a confidential human source as a foot guide to enter the U.S. from Mexico. After his shift ended, Moreno was paid $8,000 and arrested.