Border official in Minn. charged with lying to FBI
Published 1:13 pm Thursday, January 27, 2011
MINNEAPOLIS — A U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agent is charged with lying to the FBI for allegedly making up a story about being threatened so he could be transferred to the southern border.
A federal indictment unsealed Thursday charges 29-year-old Andrew Rodriguez of East Grand Forks with one count of making false statements.
The indictment says that on Nov. 7, Rodriguez told FBI agents that he was driving along Highway 71 when he was pulled over by two men. Rodriguez allegedly said one of the men threatened to harm his family if he didn’t do what they said.
Later, prosecutors say, he admitted he made up the story in an effort to relocate to the south.
It was not immediately clear whether Rodriguez had an attorney. His phone number is unlisted.