Customs agent let convict relative into US

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A Customs agent in San Diego has pleaded guilty to allowing his brother-in-law, a convicted immigrant smuggler, into the United States.

U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy announced Tuesday that Thomas Silva pleaded guilty to concealing a person from arrest. He was a nine-year veteran of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Silva admitted allowing convicted immigrant smuggler Julio Cesar Landaverde into the U.S. from Mexico in April and entering inaccurate information about Landaverde's car to help him evade arrest.

Silva also pleaded guilty to collecting insurance money by claiming his pickup truck had been stolen when in fact he had driven it to Mexico. He agreed to pay more than $7,000 in restitution to Farmers Insurance.

Silva could get five years in prison fines of up to $250,000 when he's sentenced in December.