INS INSPECTOR FOUND GUILTY OF SMUGGLING MARIJUANA, PEOPLE

SAN DIEGO--A veteran U.S. immigration officer was found guilty Monday
of smuggling marijuana and illegal immigrants into the United States
by allowing vehicles to pass through his inspection lane.

The federal jury deliberated for about two days before announcing its
verdict against Richard Lawrence Pineda, a senior inspector now on
administrative leave from the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Pineda was found guilty on 12 counts, including smuggling and
conspiracy, but was acquitted of taking money for the cursory
inspections. He faces 10 years to life in prison at his sentencing
June 27.

Prosecutors characterized Pineda as a corrupt inspector who betrayed
the United States when he allowed 25 illegal immigrants in six cars
and 3,550 pounds of marijuana in four carloads to pass through his
lane at the San Ysidro Port of Entry over a 12-month period.

The U.S. attorney's office alleged that Pineda earned at least
$350,000 in bribes, but there was no evidence of any large bank
deposits or large purchases to substantiate the charge.

His defense lawyer argued that Pineda was inefficient and that
smugglers watching the busy port of entry that handles a total of
about 44,000 cars a day noticed his sloppy inspections and
deliberately sent vehicles to his lane. "I do believe he got set up
and used and got taken advantage of by a very sophisticated drug- and
alien-smuggling organization," said his lawyer, Mark Adams.

Adams said he would appeal.