Jesus Velasco Esparza,arrested alleges that Esparza demanded and received bribe money in exchange for helping smuggle substances
Jesus Velasco Esparza, 22, was arrested Thursday by the Imperial County Public Corruption Task Force. He will return to court Wednesday for a detention hearing.
The criminal complaint alleges that Esparza was paid a fee by someone he believed to be a narcotics trafficker to access the Treasury Enforcement Communications System database to check the license plates of vehicles that would be used to smuggle drugs into the United States. The complaint also alleges that Esparza demanded and received bribe money in exchange for helping smuggle substances containing detectable amounts of heroin and cocaine across the border.He is accused of bribery; attempting to aid and abet importation of controlled substances; and computer fraud for looking up license plate numbers of vehicles suspected of being used to smuggle drugs into the United States, according to a federal complaint filed Thursday.
According to the complaint, the investigation began in August with the assistance of a confidential FBI source. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Forge said Friday that Esparza was paid $500 for each license plate he ran through CBP computers, and from $7,600 to $13,400 to allow drugs to be smuggled through the port. Esparza is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday for a detention hearing.
