A man caught with three migrants at the Sarita checkpoint last week attempted to bribe several Border Patrol agents — offering them cash to let him go, according to the criminal complaint.
At about 3:40 p.m. on July 10, a black sedan arrived at the Sarita checkpoint. The driver, Israel Diaz, and the passenger, Veronica Sigala, told agents they were United States citizens.
A K-9, though, alerted to the trunk.
When a Border Patrol agent searched the sedan, he discovered three people hiding in the trunk, according to the criminal complaint.
“**Note** during the investigation and processing DIAZ offered $100 USD, $50 USD and $200 USD to different agents to let him go,” according to the criminal complaint.
After agents pulled him from the trunk, migrant Daniel Hernandez-Guzman thanked Border Patrol for rescuing him.
“Hernandez advised that he feared for his life because he had trouble breathing, needing water and not knowing how to get out of the trunk,” according to the criminal compliant. “Hernandez also stated that he was thankful for the agents opening the trunk because he believe he would have died otherwise.”
Agents charged Diaz and Sigala with transporting an illegal alien within the United States in violation of the law.
Both Diaz and Sigala remain in federal custody and couldn’t be reached for comment.
