Customs and Border Protection Officer Pleads Guilty to Concealing Fugitive from Law Enforcement
Officer Also Pleads Guilty to Separate Insurance Fraud Scheme
United States Attorney Laura E. Duffy announced that Customs and Border Protection Officer Thomas P. Silva pled guilty tuesday before Magistrate Judge William V. Gallo to concealing a person from arrest, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1071; and wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343. As part of his plea, Silva also agreed to forfeit over $16,000 in illegal proceeds from his criminal activity and pay $7,329.37 in restitution to Farmers Insurance, the victim of his wire fraud scheme.
In entering his plea, Silva admitted to concealing a wanted fugitive from arrest while on duty at the San Ysidro port of entry. In particular, Silva admitted allowing the fugitive to enter the United States from Mexico without inspection—despite verifying the fugitive’s status using CBP’s computer systems. Silva further assisted the fugitive by purposefully entering inaccurate information related to the fugitive’s car in CBP’s computer system in an effort to help the fugitive elude arrest.
Silva also admitted in his plea agreement to engaging in a separate scheme to defraud Farmers Insurance of over $7,000 by falsely reporting that his Nissan Titan pickup truck had been stolen from a local San Diego community. Silva admitted, however, that he had, in fact, taken the truck to Mexico prior to reporting it stolen in furtherance of his fraudulent scheme. Thereafter, Silva filed the false claim with Farmers Insurance, which the insurance company then paid based on his misrepresentations.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Daphne Hearn commented, “We are a nation of laws and justice. The laws of this land are in place to promote the welfare of our communities and protect our citizens. No one is above the law, especially not those who have sworn to enforce it. The FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to pursuing anyone who illegally lines his or her own pockets at the expense of the public good.”
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office
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