An exhausted US Border Patrol Agent halts a chase of suspected human traffickers along the Rio Grande river in 2014.
LAREDO, TX—On October 3, 2014 Roberto Cantu Rodriguez, a U.S. Border Patrol agent and resident of Laredo has been charged in a two-count indictment related to the harboring and concealment of illegal aliens, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Rodriguez, 35, is set to make his initial appearance this morning in Laredo federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Guillermo Garcia. The indictment was returned Wednesday, Oct. 1 and he was arrested yesterday at his place of employment.
The indictment alleges Rodriguez conspired with others from on or about June 2013 to on or about June 2014 to harbor and conceal undocumented aliens within the Southern District of Texas. He is further charged with misprision of a felony in that he had knowledge of a felony and did allegedly conceal that by conspiring to harbor and conceal undocumented aliens. If convicted, he faces up 10 years for the conspiracy and another possible three-year maximum term for the misprision of a felony. Both charges also carry a possible $250,000 maximum fine, upon conviction.
The case was investigated by FBI and Customs and Border Protection-Internal Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raul Guerra is prosecuting.
Note: An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.