A former officer with U.S. Customs and Border Protection has been sentenced to a term of over four years in federal prison for accepting bribes and facilitating the smuggling of undocumented individuals into the United States. Omar Moreno, 46, of Horizon City, faced justice in a federal court in El Paso, leading to a 51-month incarceration and an order to fulfill 80 hours of community service. His crimes, as stated by the Justice Department, included one count each of bribery of a public official and bringing in certain aliens for financial gain.
The investigation into Moreno's activities began in December 2022 when agents received a tip-off about his involvement with an alien smuggling organization. Moreno took in $4,000 per person he helped to bring illegally into the country. Ensuring their passage through the Ysleta Port of Entry without proper inspection, he was recorded on February 1, 2024, escorting two individuals, one identified as a foot guide.
The situation escalated on February 23, 2024, with Moreno getting caught red-handed as he allowed two undercover officers posing as undocumented migrants to cross the border. They utilized a confidential human source as their guide, similarly bypassing official procedures at the same port of entry he had used before. Following his shift, Moreno collected $8,000 for his illicit services before being arrested.
Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman was the one to announce the sentencing. The investigation leading to his conviction involved a collaboration among the FBI, Customs and Border Protection Office of Professional Responsibility, and the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Johnston and Andres Ortega handled the prosecution, aiming to thoroughly confront and penalize the corruption and dereliction of duty represented by Moreno's case.
