Former Border Patrol agent sentenced for bribery

A former Border Patrol agent in El Paso, Texas has been sentenced to prison for soliciting a $5,000 bribe to help a woman with her immigration papers. Fernando Castillo, 42, pleaded guilty to bribery of a public official and received an 18-month prison sentence, followed by a year of supervision and a $100 fine. Castillo approached a Salvadoran woman at the Central Processing Center, offering to secure her papers for a fee. The woman reported the missing money from her purse to border authorities, who discovered that Castillo had changed her immigration status. Castillo was apprehended when he met with the woman and had false documents. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza condemned Castillo’s actions and emphasized the importance of holding officers accountable for misconduct. Castillo denied stealing money from the woman’s purse.