A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer based in San Diego is facing federal charges for allegedly allowing vehicles carrying undocumented migrants to cross the U.S.-Mexico border. The officer is the latest to be charged in connection with a case that authorities describe as part of an internal conspiracy within the border agency.

According to a grand jury indictment, the officers allegedly allowed certain prearranged vehicles to pass through inspection booths at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. Prosecutors claim the defendants informed co-conspirators of their work schedules and lane assignments to coordinate the illegal entries.

 

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The indictment also alleges that the officers made false entries in the CBP database by underreporting the number of vehicle occupants to conceal the presence of undocumented migrants.

Authorities said these incidents occurred repeatedly, involving “dozens of vehicles” between August of last year and January.

Two previously charged officers — Farlis Almonte, 38, of San Diego, and Ricardo Rodriguez, 34, of Tijuana — are accused of accepting bribes in exchange for allowing the vehicles through.

The latest defendant is Kairy Stephania Quinonez, 31, of Imperial Beach. While she faces charges for her alleged involvement in the scheme, she is not accused of accepting bribes.

The investigation remains ongoing, and federal prosecutors have not ruled out additional arrests or indictments in connection with what they say may be a broader corruption network within the CBP. Information from 2025, City News Service, Inc.

 

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