LAPD Officer Charged with Alien Smuggling and Conspiracy: Serious Charges Dismissed at Trial- Probation Sentence

Mr. Griffin was retained by a 10-year LAPD veteran, who had been arrested for smuggling a 26-year old Mexican citizen across the border into the U.S.

On March 14, 2015, as the 34-year-old and his 31-year-old girlfriend attempted to cross into south San Diego County at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, they drew the suspicion of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents.

After claiming that they had nothing to declare, an X-ray at the second checkpoint showed an anomaly in the rear of the vehicle. Agents discovered a person hiding in a spare tire well in the trunk of the 2014 Nissan Juke.

The client was arrested for allegedly violating:

• One Count: Bringing in Illegal Aliens without Presentation – Title 8 United States Code Sec. 1324(a)(2)(B)(iii)

A federal grand jury indicted the couple with bringing an undocumented individual into the country without presentation.

Although this charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine, the former police officer was instead sentenced to the significantly reduced sentence of home detention. He was also placed on paid administrative leave by the LAPD. According to the Latin Times, “He is probably the first member of Los Angeles law enforcement to be charged as a coyote, a migrant smuggler.”

Read more here.