INS INSPECTOR SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS FOR HELPING SMUGGLE DRUGS

A former Immigration and Naturalization Service inspector was sentenced
Friday to 20 years in federal prison for conspiring to import marijuana and
for money laundering.

U.S. District Judge David Briones also ordered the former agent, El Pasoan
Raymond Monroe Allen II, 40, to be placed on supervised release for five
years after completing his prison term.

Allen pleaded guilty to the charges April 11.

Allen admitted that while he was employed by the INS, he used cell phones,
pagers, and two-way radios to coordinate drug shipments over the Bridge of
Americas through U.S. checkpoints, officials said.

Authorities estimate that for more than two years beginning in 1999, Allen
helped import about 82 tons of marijuana into the United States from Mexico.

Allen was paid between $5,000 to $10,000 for every shipment into the United
States while he was on duty, authorities allege.

According to the plea agreement, Allen agreed to forfeit his home in the
1300 block of Silver Gate Place, valued at $279,000, and agreed to a $3
million monetary judgment.