LOS ANGELES (CNS) - A trial is scheduled in downtown Los Angeles today in the case of a longtime immigration agent accused of helping a Mexican national with multiple convictions re-enter the country illegally.
Felix Cisneros Jr., a 44-year-old Murrieta resident, worked with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for 10 years and was assigned to the agency's Homeland Security Investigations office in the Inland Empire when charged last year, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Cisneros, who worked as an undercover agent and investigated money laundering as well as human and narcotics trafficking, is charged in a seven- count federal indictment with conspiracy to aid or assist entry of an aggravated felon, falsification of records, tampering with a witness, making false statements and other crimes.
He was allegedly contacted in 2013 by a key figure of a criminal organization based in Southern California to assist the unidentified Mexican national, according to papers filed in Los Angeles federal court.
At the time, the man was working for the organized crime leader in the oil and gas industry, and had traveled to Mexico to negotiate business transactions, prosecutors contend.
When the man tried to re-enter the United States in July 2013, he was detained at Los Angeles International Airport and his passport was confiscated because of an arrest warrant for fraud, documents state.
The U.S. Attorney's Office alleges that the Mexico native was a legal permanent resident of the U.S. but had multiple criminal convictions for financial fraud. Cisneros allegedly helped the felon regain his passport and re- enter the U.S. at LAX ``likely through deception,'' according to federal prosecutors.
The trial before U.S. District Judge Christina A. Snyder is expected to last about six days.
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