Two Border Agents Face Charges in Bribery Case
Two supervisory U.S. Border Patrol agents pleaded not guilty Friday to charges that they released illegal immigrants from federal custody in exchange for $300,000 in cash bribes.
Mario Alvarez, 44, and Samuel McClaren, 43, who worked with Mexican authorities on a successful anti-smuggling program, were charged with migrant smuggling, conspiracy, bribery, smuggling and other crimes in a federal complaint.
Carl McClafferty, chief Border Patrol agent in the El Centro sector where the agents worked, said the investigation, which is still open, began with a tip from two other agents.
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