Former CBP Officer Leonard Darnell George Sentenced to 23 Years for Taking Bribes to Let Drugs and Migrants Through the Border.
Former U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Leonard Darnell George was sentenced to 23 years in federal prison after prosecutors said he used his badge and inspection lane to help criminal organizations move drug-laden vehicles and unauthorized migrants into the United States.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, George accepted bribes to allow vehicles containing methamphetamine and other illicit drugs to pass through the border into the United States. The sentencing followed his June 2024 federal jury conviction for receiving bribes, conspiracy to import controlled substances, and counts related to bringing in unauthorized individuals for financial gain.
A Border Inspection Lane Turned Into a Criminal Gateway
Federal prosecutors said George worked with criminal organizations while serving as a CBP officer at the border. Witnesses testified that George would notify traffickers when he was working, identify the lane he was assigned to, and give them a limited window to reach his lane.
The scheme began to unravel in February 2022 when a suspected smuggling vehicle entering George’s lane was flagged by law enforcement and forced into secondary inspection. Authorities later found approximately 222 pounds of methamphetamine in that vehicle. Prosecutors said George then allowed a second vehicle connected to the same trafficking organization, traveling directly behind the flagged vehicle, to enter the United States with more than 200 pounds of drugs.
Text Messages, Bribe Payments, and a Cadillac
Prosecutors said text messages showed George received approximately $13,000 for one vehicle he allowed through. Other messages showed he agreed to accept payments based on the number of vehicles entering his lane, including $17,000 for one vehicle, $34,000 for two, $51,000 for three, and $65,000 for four. One message showed George received $68,000 after allowing four vehicles from one organization to enter his lane in June 2022.
According to prosecutors, George used the proceeds of his criminal conduct to buy vehicles, motorcycles, jewelry, and other luxury items. The government also said he purchased a 2020 Cadillac CT5 for an associate of the trafficking organization and delivered it in Ensenada on Valentine’s Day.
Approximately 19 Crossings Identified
Federal authorities said they identified approximately 19 crossings associated with the criminal organizations during a six-month period. Prosecutors said George repeatedly concealed the true identities of drivers and passengers by entering false or incomplete information as vehicles passed through his lane.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, and CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility. The Associated Press also reported that George worked at the San Ysidro border crossing in San Diego, described as the nation’s busiest port of entry.
Convicted and Sentenced
George was convicted by a federal jury on June 10, 2024. On October 25, 2024, he was sentenced to 23 years in prison. The charges included receiving a bribe by a public official, conspiracy to import controlled substances, and bringing in certain aliens for financial gain.
This case is another reminder that border corruption is not a paperwork violation or a minor lapse in judgment. A uniformed federal officer was placed in a position of public trust and used that access to help traffickers move drugs and people into the country for cash. Instead of enforcing the law, Leonard Darnell George became part of the criminal pipeline he was supposed to stop.
