16 Marines arrested this morning at Pendleton

[Gil Bang 26,121]

Sixteen Marines at California's Camp Pendleton have been arrested following a human smuggling investigation, according to the Marine Corps.

The 16 Marines were arrested Thursday morning on allegations ranging from human smuggling to drug-related offenses, the 1st Marine Division said in a statement. The arrests were carried out by division officials and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service during battalion formation.

The arrests come only weeks after two Marines at the base, located north of San Diego about 55 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border,  were arrested near the border by a Border Patrol agent. The two Marines were accused of smuggling three Mexicans into the United States. The Marine Corps said information gained from those arrests led to Thursday's arrests. 

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Eight additional Marines were reportedly questioned about unrelated drug offenses. 

The two Marines arrested previously, Byron Darnell Law II and David Javier Salazar-Quintero, face federal charges of transporting unauthorized immigrants for financial gain, reports the San Diego Union-Tribune.  

They were reportedly pulled over by a Border Patrol agent July 3, driving a car near the border in Jacumba Hot Springs with three undocumented immigrants riding in the back seat. Citing a federal criminal complaint, Law allegedly said Salazar-Quintero had called him the previous night "and asked him if he was willing make $1,000 picking up an illegal alien," the paper reports. Salazar-Quintero allegedly said it was Law who introduced him to a recruiter who dispatched them to pick up people near the border, according to the paper.

The Marine Corps confirmed to the Union-Tribune the Marines arrested Thursday are from the same unit as Law and Salazar-Quintero. More details on the allegations against them weren't immediately clear. The paper reports the 16 are in NCIS custody and are expected to be prosecuted by the Marines, while Law and Salazar-Quintero are being prosecuted in federal court.

"1st Marine Division is committed to justice and the rule of law, and we will continue to fully cooperate with NCIS on this matter," the Marine Corps statement said. "Any Marines found to be in connection with these alleged activities will be questioned and handled accordingly with respect to due process."

Marines this year were brought in to help support the Department of Homeland Security in reinforcing the border by installing razor wire on top of existing barriers. Military troops are barred from making arrests of immigrants.

First published on July 25, 2019 / 2:50 PM

[Bobby_Batronic 1,994]

I wonder if they group of illegals caught in military uniform complete with name tags etc. is connected to this. 

[El Diablo 4,232]

Knew a guy in Navy personnel 35 years ago in San Diego who was making a killing selling ID's to folks across the border.

[Redneck Mutha 8,090]

[SA-KC_Horn 1,296]

28 minutes ago, El Diablo said:

Knew a guy in Navy personnel 35 years ago in San Diego who was making a killing selling ID's to folks across the border.

[CooterBrown 18,116]

Why don't they just get a passport and come over legally and then overstay their visa? There's no system in place to track the visas entering the country from Mexico.  Seems a lot cheaper and less risky.

[Sbbruin 21,938]

I always loved seing this sign near Pendleton.

[El Diablo 4,232]

7 minutes ago, CooterBrown said:

Why don't they just get a passport and come over legally and then overstay their visa? There's no system in place to track the visas entering the country from Mexico.  Seems a lot cheaper and less risky.

You'd think bribing some Mexican official to get Mexican papers  would be cheaper, right?

[CHEF DIESEL 126]

Wonder if there is a video of each Marine being called out during formation. That had to be pretty epic to see.

[El Diablo 4,232]

1 hour ago, CHEF DIESEL said:

Wonder if there is a video of each Marine being called out during formation. That had to be pretty epic to see.

No shit. Kinda hard to keep your eyes forward when dudes around you are being called out like that to be led away to the fucking brig. They be going to jail, I be doing pushups.

[crash_davis 23,175]

the marines got soft when they banned code reds. 

 

[CooterBrown 18,116]

1 hour ago, El Diablo said:

You'd think bribing some Mexican official to get Mexican papers  would be cheaper, right?

A quick google shows it costs $74 with a valid ID.

[You don't know me 1,161]

7 minutes ago, CooterBrown said:

A quick google shows it costs $74 with a valid ID.

You just made the list, buddy.

[El Diablo 4,232]

7 minutes ago, CooterBrown said:

A quick google shows it costs $74 with a valid ID.

So they're smuggling Guatemalans who were in Mexico illegally? Layers upon layers of deceit.