Audio By Carbonatix
For the second time this month, a federal agent in Arizona has been charged with a corruption-based crime.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced today that U.S. Border Patrol agent Abel Canales has been indicted for accepting a bribe to allow a U-Haul truck he thought was filled with either drugs or illegal immigrants to pass through a southern Arizona border checkpoint.
Canales, authorities say, allowed the U-Haul to pass through the I-19 Border Patrol checkpoint yesterday. After the truck made safe passage into the U.S., Canales was seen making contact with a co-conspirator, who handed him an envelope full of cash.
Yesterday, the unnamed co-conspirator met with someone he believed to be a drug dealer and human smuggler in Rio Rico. The co-conspirator told the faux-smuggler to have the U-Haul travel north on I-19 to the checkpoint where Canales was stationed.
Will you step up to support New Times this year?
At New Times, we’re small and scrappy — and we make the most of every dollar from our supporters. Right now, we’re $16,750 away from reaching our December 31 goal of $30,000. If you’ve ever learned something new, stayed informed, or felt more connected because of New Times, now’s the time to give back.
The co-conspirator positioned his vehicle directly in front of the U-Haul as the two vehicles passed through the checkpoint. When Canales — who’d been in contact with the co-conspirator that morning — recognized the co-conspirator’s vehicle, he instructed another agent to take it to a secondary inspection area. Meanwhile, Canales handled the U-Haul, which he believed to be full of contraband.
“Are you an American citizen,” Canales asked the driver of the U-Haul.
“Buenos dias,” the fake smuggler responded, before being ushered through the checkpoint by Canales.
After the U-Haul passed through the checkpoint without incident, the co-conspirator met with two men he believed to be smugglers, who gave him a manilla envelope containing $8,000.
Shortly after the meeting with the phony smugglers, the co-conspirator met with Canales at a Wal-Mart in Nogales, where — still wearing his Border Patrol uniform — he was witnessed retrieving the envelope of cash.
Canales has been charged with one count each of conspiracy to accept a bribe and accepting a bribe. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
