Roberto Adams, Accepting Bribes, Texas 2022

LAREDO, Texas - Roberto Adams, a 69-year-old Laredo man, has been ordered to federal prison for accepting bribes from Mexican cattle brokers, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Adams pleaded guilty on April 25, 2022, to accepting over $40,000 in bribe payments from Mexican cattle brokers while acting in his official position as a USDA employee.

In return, Adams allowed diseased cattle to enter the United States without proper quarantine or inspection.

Roberto Adams was a employed at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a lead animal health technician for 10 years. In that role, he was responsible for inspecting and quarantining or excluding tick-infested or diseased cattle.

On May 30, 2024, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo ordered Adams to serve a total of 57 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

Adams' sentence was enhanced because he accepted more than one bribe payment while in a position of public trust for a total amount of over $40,000. He was also ordered to immediately pay $40,000 in fines.

'It is critical that we do not allow corruption to infect positions of public trust, including inspectors at the port of entry,' said Hamdani. 'They are supposed to ensure the safety and integrity of the agricultural products passing into the United States. Adams put that system at risk. We hope this sentence serves as deterrent to others thinking of violating their obligations.'

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/former-usda-animal-inspector-sentenced-accepting-bribes