LAREDO, TEXAS —A U.S. Border Patrol agent plead guilty to concealing, harboring and shielding five undocumented aliens from detection, officials said Tuesday.
Roberto Cantu Rodriguez, 35, of Laredo, entered a guilty plea to a charge of concealing, harboring and shielding five undocumented aliens from detection, admitting that he knew them through his girlfriend, who used fraudulent documents to work in the U.S., according to authorities.
Rodriguez is facing up to five years in prison as well as a possible fine of up to $250,000, officials said. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
On June 18, 2014, law enforcement was conducting surveillance at a residence on Cedar Avenue in Laredo where they observed a marked U.S. Border Patrol vehicle. Rodriguez was identified as the driver of that vehicle.
Inside the residence, law enforcement discovered five related adults living there, all of whom were undocumented aliens. The residents indicated that Rodriguez was aware of their illegal presence the United States, officials.
Officials said Rodriguez admitted he had known the occupants of the Cedar Avenue residence for approximately one year. He had met them through his girlfriend, whom he was aware had fraudulent documents that she used to obtain work in the U.S. He also admitted he knew that two of the individuals living at the house had been previously deported from the U.S.