Former Customs and Border
Protection Officer Sentenced for Lying to the FBI
United States Attorney Karen P. Hewitt
announced today that Jason Alan O’Neal, a former
Bureau of Customs and Border Protection Officer (CBP),
was sentenced today in federal court in San Diego by
Chief Judge Irma E. Gonzalez to a term of three years’ probation
and a $100 penalty assessment for the felony conviction
of making false statements to the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI). As part of his plea agreement
executed on February 19, 2008, O’Neal resigned
from federal employment and agreed not to seek any
federal, state or local law enforcement position in
the future.
In connection with his guilty plea, O’Neal admitted
that he lied to FBI agents when he stated that he used
the Treasury Enforcement Communications System (TECS)
solely in his official capacity as an officer with
the CBP. In fact, he admitted that he accessed the
TECS database over 100 times in an unofficial capacity
to monitor crossings of his girlfriend at the Otay
Mesa Port of Entry. The plea agreement stated in part: “Defendant’s
girlfriend lived in Mexico and was a participant in
the Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection
(SENTRI) program and crossed frequently from Mexico
into the United States driving a 2006 Land Rover which
was purchased for her by defendant in a suspect transaction.”
United States Attorney Hewitt noted “This felony
conviction as well as O’Neal’s resignation
from Government service reflects this office’s
commitment to uncover and deter breaches of public
trust.” United States Attorney Hewitt praised
the efforts of the Border Corruption Task Force, including
the FBI, the Office of the Inspector General of the
Department of Homeland Security (OIG), the Office of
Internal Affairs of the Bureau of Customs and Border
Protection, the Office of Professional Responsibility
of the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement,
and the Internal Revenue Service, which participated
in the investigation and continue to focus on wrongdoing
by public officials.
According to FBI Special Agent in Charge Keith Slotter, “Criminal
conduct as well as making false statements to the FBI
will not be tolerated by the public from those who
are entrusted with the security of our nation.”
DEFENDANT Case Number: 08cr0400-IEG
Jason Alan O’Neal
Age: 33 Chula Vista, California
SUMMARY OF CHARGE
Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001(a)(2) -
False Statements
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Border Corruption Task Force
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Office of Inspector General, Department of Homeland
Security
Office of Internal Affairs, Bureau of Customs and Border
Protection
Office of Professional Responsibility, Bureau of Immigration
and Customs Enforcement
Internal Revenue Service
