Former Arizona Border Patrol agent sentenced 12 years for various crimes
Dec 28, 2022, 8:00 PM
Destiney Rae Montoya, 22, was sentenced to a year in prison for her role as a social media recruiter for human smuggling. (Pexels Photo)
(Pexels Photo)
PHOENIX — A former Arizona Border Patrol agent was sentenced earlier this month to over a dozen years in federal prison on firearms, narcotics and bribery charges, authorities said.
Ramon Antonio Monreal-Rodriguez, 36, previously pleaded guilty to several charges, including conspiracy to provide firearms to a convicted felon and to distribute cocaine, the U.S. Attorney Office for the District of Arizona said in a press release.
Monreal-Rodriguez will serve over 12.5 years and was ordered to pay $151,000 in restitution to Border Patrol for salary earned while taking part in criminal activity.
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“Most Border Patrol agents are excellent public servants who diligently interdict contraband like guns and drugs,” United States Attorney Gary Restaino said in the release.
“For those who aren’t and don’t, Bureau of Prisons has plenty of room.”
Multiple investigations revealed Monreal-Rodriguez purchased firearms to distribute to felons, while he also conspired to import narcotics into the country from Mexico.
As part of his admission, Monreal-Rodriguez confessed to transporting and distributing 116 kilograms of cocaine and 107 kilograms of marijuana — often in his USBP vehicle — totaling at least $1.2 million.
He also carried his service weapon and used the radio in his patrol vehicle when he picked up narcotics and dropped off the drug proceeds, the release said.
The Southern Arizona Corruption Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.
