CUSTOMS OFFICIAL AND U.S. MARSHAL EMPLOYEE INDICTED ON BRIBERY CHARGES IN TEXAS

McALLEN, Texas -- A husband and wife -- both federal employees -- have been
indicted on bribery charges after being accused of asking a drug defendant
to pay for inside information on his case.

A grand jury Tuesday indicted 28-year-old Brian Anthony Brown, a U.S.
Customs special agent, and 31-year-old Sylvia Longoria Brown, a clerk in
the U.S. Marshal's office. The McAllen couple were arrested Sept. 18 and
are free on bond.

Authorities say they received $3,500 for giving Joel Garza information
about his possible sentence for conspiring to distribute 86 kilograms of
marijuana, to which he pleaded guilty.

Garza's friend went to the police because Garza couldn't pay the $5,000 the
Browns had requested, and his friend was worried Garza would be killed,
according to court records.

Investigators recorded an arranged meeting between Garza's friend and the
Browns, who accepted $3,500 for payment, court records stated.