INS Inspector Found Guilty of Smuggling Marijuana, People

A veteran U.S. immigration officer was found guilty Monday of smuggling marijuana and illegal immigrants into the United States by allowing vehicles to pass through his inspection lane.

The federal jury deliberated for about two days before announcing its verdict against Richard Lawrence Pineda, a senior inspector now on administrative leave from the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Pineda was found guilty on 12 counts, including smuggling and conspiracy, but was acquitted of taking money for the cursory inspections. He faces 10 years to life in prison at his sentencing June 27.

Prosecutors characterized Pineda as a corrupt inspector who betrayed the United States when he allowed 25 illegal immigrants in six cars and 3,550 pounds of marijuana in four carloads to pass through his lane at the San Ysidro Port of Entry over a 12-month period.

The U.S. attorney’s office alleged that Pineda earned at least $350,000 in bribes, but there was no evidence of any large bank deposits or large purchases to substantiate the charge.

His defense lawyer argued that Pineda was inefficient and that smugglers watching the busy port of entry that handles a total of about 44,000 cars a day noticed his sloppy inspections and deliberately sent vehicles to his lane.

“I do believe he got set up and used and got taken advantage of by a very sophisticated drug- and alien-smuggling organization,” said his lawyer, Mark Adams.

Adams said he would appeal.