Customs Agent Arrested
Sergio Chapa, Brownsville Herald, March 9, 2006
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Authorities arrested a customs agent from Raymondville on Wednesday following an investigation into allegations that he accepted bribes to allow drugs to pass through an international bridge in the Brownsville area.
A federal grand jury on Feb. 22 indicted 33-year-old Juan Posas Jr. on a bribery charge, two counts. The indictment had remained sealed until Wednesday’s arrest.
Posas allegedly accepted $5,000 in bribes from undercover officers to allow shipments of illegal drugs through his post in June 2005, according to the indictment.
U.S. Customs & Border Protection spokesman Rick Pauza said Posas had worked for the agency for 12 years, but was a K-9 officer with the Brownsville Port of Entry.
Officials declined to comment which bridge Posas worked at the time of the alleged incident, but the Brownsville Port of Entry oversees the Veterans, Gateway, B&M and Los Indios international bridges.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, authorities arrested Posas Wednesday.
The 33-year-old Raymondville man appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Felix Recio Wednesday afternoon where he was placed under $75,000 in bonds.
(Posted on March 9, 2006)