A Chula Vista man who is serving a five-year federal prison term for bribing a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer will be released on parole in November 2016, according to a federal prison web site.
Gerardo Rodriguez, 42, was sentenced Sept. 9 by U.S. District Court Judge Roger Benitez and he forfeited a 2005 Mercedes, a 2006 Harley Davidson, computers, televisions and $60,000 in cash.
Another Chula Vista resident, Maria Guerrero, 39, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and a $40,000 fine. Guerrero remains free on $35,000 bond until she surrenders on Jan. 10 to begin her term, according to court records.
Rodriguez and Guerrero paid the bribes in order for a customs officer to allow undocumented aliens into the country.
Also prosecuted was the former agent, Hector Rodriguez, 45, who is not related to Gerardo Rodriguez. He was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison.
Gerardo Rodriguez drove a vehicle with eight undocumented immigrants through Hector Rodriguez’s inspection lane at the San Ysidro port-of-entry on July 13, 2012.
Hector Rodriguez later admitted he received bribes from Gerardo Rodriguez and Guerrero from 2010 to 2012. Gerardo Rodriguez was in the U.S. Marines for 20 years, his attorney said. Gerardo Rodriguez’s parole date is set for Nov. 19, 2016.
