Two U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers, Jesse Clark Garcia and Diego Bonillo, have been caught in a sordid plot to allow drug smuggling into the United States. Both officers have pleaded guilty to conspiring with members of a Mexican-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) to facilitate the illegal importation of controlled substances through their respective inspection lanes.
Garcia, who worked at the Tecate Port of Entry in California, and Bonillo, based at Otay Mesa Port of Entry, used a secret emoji code to inform the DTO about their assigned time and lane. This allowed drug-laden vehicles to bypass inspections, ensuring their illegal cargo reached American soil unchallenged.
Garcia pleaded guilty on July 8, 2025, facing nine counts, including Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances and Importation of Cocaine, Methamphetamine, and Fentanyl. Bonillo followed suit on July 28, 2025, with three counts of the same nature, including Importation of Fentanyl and Heroin. During his plea, Bonillo confessed to allowing over 75 kilograms of fentanyl into the country.
The prosecution revealed that both defendants profited immensely from their criminal activities, funding luxury purchases and international trips. Sentencing for Garcia is set for September 26, 2025, while Bonillo’s sentencing date is November 7, 2025.
This case is a testament to the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Van Demark, Bianca Calderon-Peñaloza, and Shauna Prewitt, who are prosecuting this serious offense.
The investigation into Garcia and Bonillo was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Professional Responsibility, U.S. Border Patrol, and Homeland Security Investigations. The Drug Enforcement Administration also played a crucial role in bringing these criminals to justice.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Public Corruption|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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