ICE Agent Convicted of Conspiracy, Receives 12-Month Sentence

LOS ANGELES – In a shocking case of corruption, Felix Cisneros Jr., a 44-year-old special agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), has been sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in federal prison for his conviction on four federal offenses related to assistance he provided to a Mexican national with a criminal record to re-enter the United States and then lying to cover it up.

Cisneros, an 11-year veteran of ICE who is now on indefinite suspension from the agency, was sentenced by United States District Judge Christina A. Snyder, who said the prison term should deter both the defendant and other law enforcement agents from engaging in criminal conduct.

In April, a jury found Cisneros guilty of four felony counts: conspiracy to aid and assist the entry of an alien convicted of an aggravated felony into the United States, acting as agent of another person in a matter affecting the government, falsification of records in a federal investigation, and making false statements.

According to court documents and the evidence presented to the jury, Cisneros agreed to help Levon Termendzhyan, a suspected crime figure, by facilitating Termendzhyan’s business associate, Santiago Garcia-Gutierrez, re-enter the United States after traveling to Mexico City in September 2013. Garcia-Gutierrez was a lawful permanent resident of the United States, but because of prior criminal convictions and an outstanding warrant for his arrest, he was barred from being legally admitted into the United States upon his return.

As part of the conspiracy, Cisneros persuaded CBP officers to return Garcia’s passport, ensured that Garcia would be allowed to re-enter the United States after the September 2013 trip, and urged CBP to extend Garcia’s parole that allowed him to remain in the United States pending resolution of his immigration status. Cisneros provided assistance to Garcia knowing about his prior convictions. Cisneros also accepted a financial benefit from Garcia, namely, Dodger playoff tickets, for his agreement to use his status as an HSI special agent to intervene with CBP on Garcia’s behalf.

The case against Cisneros is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General; and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Patricia A. Donahue, Chief of Trials, Integrity and Professionalism, and Sheila Nagaraj of the Public Corruption and Cybercrime Section.

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