$100,000 smuggling scheme: US Customs officer from Diamond Bar arrested

Chris Hondros/Getty Images

Officers with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection line up in the International Arrivals terminal of Newark International Airport Aug. 24, 2009 in Newark, New Jersey.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer from Diamond Bar is facing charges of bribery and fraud. Federal prosecutors say Sam Allen accepted bribes from his ex-wife and others as part of a scheme to smuggle goods into the U.S. from China.

But Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Fox says Allen falsely claimed the goods were exported to Mexico, so his ex-wife could avoid paying taxes and duties.

“Allegedly Mr. Allen’s ex-wife was paying him $2,000 per shipment — and that Mr. Allen received over $100,000 as a result of this scheme.”

Federal agents arrested Allen early Thursday morning. He was scheduled to appear in court at 2 p.m. His ex-wife was arrested last year and has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Allen also faces charges that he lied to federal investigators about discussing a cocaine smuggling scheme.