According to testimony from a federal agent, a US Customs and Border Protection officer who was accused of smuggling migrants across the El Paso border was allegedly working as a member of a Mexican drug cartel on the side.
During his arraignment hearing last Thursday, investigators revealed that CBP Officer Manuel Perez Jr., a 32-year-old US citizen originally from California, is believed to be a member of the Juárez drug cartel, also known as La Linea.
According to a special agent from the CBP Office of Professional Responsibility, multiple witnesses have stated that he was associated with the La Linea cartel in Mexico, as reported by the El Paso Times.
Perez faced the consequences of his actions when he was dismissed on February 8. This came after his arrest by the FBI El Paso West Texas Border Corruption Task Force on charges related to federal and human drug smuggling.
If Perez is convicted, he could potentially be sentenced to a minimum of 10 years in prison, with the possibility of a life sentence. It’s worth noting that he has no prior criminal record and no reported problems with substance abuse. The federal magistrate judge, after the detention hearing on February 13, ruled that Perez should remain in jail without the option of bond.
According to the special agent’s testimony, Perez has reportedly admitted to receiving $2,500 for each undocumented migrant he allowed to pass through his inspection lane on the international bridge at the El Paso border. The indictment states that he specifically allowed a gray Nissan Pathfinder, which was smuggling migrants including children, to cross the border multiple times.
The exact number of individuals Perez assisted in crossing the border before his arrest remains unknown.
According to the prosecution, Perez may have pocketed as much as $400,000 in the scheme that dates back to December 2023.
According to the indictment, he is believed to have been involved in a cocaine distribution conspiracy from November 2019 until the beginning of this month. In a specific incident, he is accused of assisting in the transportation of eight kilos of cocaine from El Paso to Louisiana and North Carolina in October 2023.
During intercepted phone calls, other smugglers made references to “100% guarantee” crossings, attributing their success to having “the officer in their pocket,” according to the agent’s testimony.
According to Ruben Ortiz, Perez’s attorney, it is possible that the smugglers heard over the phone may not be telling the truth about Perez’s involvement.
“The cooperating witnesses are telling them (federal investigators) whatever they want to hear for now,” Ortiz said, adding that informers are “pointing fingers, perhaps to gain favor from the government in their own cases.”
According to the agent’s testimony, Perez was consistently armed, even while sleeping. Witnesses also alleged that he had an armed security detail accompanying him whenever he was in Mexico. These accusations are backed by photographic evidence.
According to the special agent, another witness stated that Perez expressed a preference for being arrested in Mexico if the situation ever arose. This way, he could continue his criminal activities even while in jail.
CBP investigators extensively analyzed a database of recorded border crossings, which revealed that Perez had spent over 80% of his non-working time in Mexico, according to the special agent. Ortiz stated that Perez frequented Mexico due to his former girlfriend residing there.
During a search of Perez’s residence in Juarez, Mexican agents discovered $18,000 in cash, according to the special agent.
According to the agent, Perez is undeniably residing in Mexico.
The whereabouts of the remaining profits from Perez’s alleged smuggling activities remain uncertain.
The judge unequivocally concluded that Perez posed a flight risk due to his frequent trips to Mexico and his alleged affiliation with the cartel.
