LOS ANGELES - Investigators Thursday arrested a U.S. Customs and Border Protection supervisory officer from Diamond Bar on suspicion of taking bribes in exchange for smuggling Chinese goods into the U.S. without required duties and taxes.
Sam Herbert Allen, 51, was arrested after being indicted Wednesday on federal charges of conspiracy, bribery and making false statement to U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigators.
Working alongside his ex-wife, who he convinced to open an importing business, and another defendant, Allen accepted bribes of $2,000 per shipment, U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman Thom Mrozek said in a written statement.
The scheme allegedly defrauded the government out of an estimated $781,632 in unpaid customs duties and taxes, and Allen is accused of receiving more than $100,000 in bribes.
At his job with the CBP, Allen was charged with overseeing the examination and release of cargo entering the United States, Mrozek said.
The import business would falsely claim shipments were actually bound for Mexico and not the U.S., officials said.
According to the indictment, "Allen promised to make the shipments appear to CBP as if they had been exported to Mexico," Mrozek said.
Allen was scheduled to appear in federal court in Los Angeles for an arraignment Thursday afternoon. If convicted as charged, he faces up to 35 years in federal prison.
The other two defendants in the case have already entered
Sam Herbert Allen, 51, was arrested after being indicted Wednesday on federal charges of conspiracy, bribery and making false statement to U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigators.
Working alongside his ex-wife, who he convinced to open an importing business, and another defendant, Allen accepted bribes of $2,000 per shipment, U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman Thom Mrozek said in a written statement.
The scheme allegedly defrauded the government out of an estimated $781,632 in unpaid customs duties and taxes, and Allen is accused of receiving more than $100,000 in bribes.
At his job with the CBP, Allen was charged with overseeing the examination and release of cargo entering the United States, Mrozek said.
The import business would falsely claim shipments were actually bound for Mexico and not the U.S., officials said.
According to the indictment, "Allen promised to make the shipments appear to CBP as if they had been exported to Mexico," Mrozek said.
Allen was scheduled to appear in federal court in Los Angeles for an arraignment Thursday afternoon. If convicted as charged, he faces up to 35 years in federal prison.
The other two defendants in the case have already entered
not guilty pleas and were scheduled to appear in court Feb. 13.
