Emanuel Isac Celedon, Smuggling Aliens, Texas 2024
LAREDO, Texas – A former Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer has been sentenced to federal prison in two separate cases for allowing aliens and cocaine across the border, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Emanuel Isac Celedon, 37, Laredo, pleaded guilty March 11, 2024, for his role in illegally smuggling illegal aliens into the United States through the Lincoln Juarez Port of Entry (POE) in Laredo.
He also admitted to bribery and attempted importation of cocaine for accepting money to allow what he thought was cocaine to cross into the United States from Mexico.
U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana has now imposed a total of 117 months in prison for both cases to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release.
He was also ordered to pay a money judgment of $17,980. At the hearing, the court noted Celedon's job was to protect the United States from introduction of controlled substances and people not authorized to be in the country, and that he had failed in both regards.
Judge Saldana added that Celedon was deeply involved in the organization and appeared to want to go even deeper.
While employed as a CBP Officer in Laredo in 2023, Celedon sought contacts within the Mexican criminal organization known as the Cartel del Noreste in order to smuggle drugs and aliens through his inspection lane in exchange for monetary payment.
During an undercover operation, Celedon expressed his interest in smuggling cocaine for payment, provided his duty schedule and gave instructions directing a loaded vehicle to his inspection lane at the port of entry.
He then allowed the vehicle to safely cross into the United States.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Human Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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