SAN DIEGO – A longtime U.S. border inspector was sentenced Monday to 7 1/2 years in prison for corruption after a jury convicted him of working with smugglers who brought drugs and people into country for nearly a decade.
Lorne Jones, 50, said he was resigned to the verdict after a two-week trial. He did not apologize but said he “surrendered.”
“I’m ready to go on with my life,” Jones said, pausing often during brief remarks to hold back tears.
Witnesses described a code system with pagers and text messages that Jones used from 2000 to 2009 to tell smugglers which San Diego border crossing lanes he was working in at what times.
Prosecutors said Jones allowed drugs and people to enter the country illegally while working inspection booths at the San Ysidro port of entry. They also said he kept his canine patrol away from drug-laden vehicles at the commercial truck area of the Otay Mesa port of entry.