Border Patrol Agent Charged with Making False Statements about his Relationships with Drug Traffickers

SAN DIEGO – U.S. Border Patrol Agent Ramon Delgado was indicted by a federal grand jury for making false statements during a pre-employment interview and in his application about his associations with known members of a drug trafficking organization.

According to the indictment unsealed today, federal officials began investigating allegations that Delgado associated with and aided a drug trafficking organization that smuggled methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine into the United States.  That drug trafficking organization included United States citizens and Mexican nationals, including two Mexican nationals with whom Delgado maintained a close and extensive relationship. The indictment alleges that Delgado lied about his relationships to these individuals in both his background investigation for federal employment and during an interview with federal agents.

Delgado made his first appearance in federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nita L. Stormes, who ordered Delgado to appear for a detention hearing on March 8, 2018.

“Any connections to drug traffickers is an obvious red flag, and concealing that connection is even more troubling,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Braverman. “U.S. Border Patrol Agents are trusted guardians of public safety and national security. We will go after any who fall short of this high standard, rare though it may be.”

“I was very disappointed to learn about these allegations when they surfaced,” said Chief Patrol Agent Rodney S. Scott.  “As with any allegation of misconduct, U.S. Border Patrol has supported the investigators throughout the investigative process and will continue to do so as this case now moves into the prosecution phase.  Integrity is a core value of all U.S. Border Patrol agents.  You simply cannot be an agent without it.  It is imperative to point out that while this is extremely disappointing, it is an anomaly.  The vast majority of U.S. Border Patrol agents carry out their duties every single day with integrity, vigilance, and honor.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge John A. Brown commented, “Keeping our border safe is a serious and complex task.  As part of this mission, the San Diego FBI Border Corruption Task Force, along with the Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General, are determined to uphold the public’s confidence in our border security by ensuring the highest standard of those employees charged with protecting the American people at our nation's borders.”

According to the indictment, on October 23, 2015, Delgado submitted his responses to the standard background investigation questions required for federal agents.  One of those questions asked whether, in the prior seven years, Delgado had a close and continuing contact with any foreign nationals with whom he was bound by affection, influence, common interests and obligation.  Delgado stated that he had no such relationships when, in truth, he had a close and continuing relationship with two Mexican nationals who were members of a drug trafficking organization.

The indictment also alleges that on July 27, 2016, federal agents asked Delgado during an interview whether he knew the members of the drug trafficking organization and Delgado falsely claimed that he did not.

DEFENDANT                                               Case Number 18CR1005-LAB                              

Ramon Delgado                                              Age: 44                                   San Diego, CA

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

False Statements – 18 U.S.C. § 1001

Penalty:  5 years’ maximum imprisonment per count

AGENCIES

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General

*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.