The United States Attorney's Office Southern District of Florida Public Affairs Office: Alicia Valle Yovanny Lopez Public Affairs Fax Press Release FORMER U.S. CUSTOMS & BORDER PATROL OFFICER SENTENCED IN BRIBERY AND ALIEN SMUGGLING OPERATIONMay 22, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Donald J. Balberchak, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, James Michael Foster, Special Agent in Charge, United State Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, Steven J. Mocsary, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Office of Professional Responsibility, Anthony V. Mangione, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Office of Investigation, and Jonathan I. Solomon, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that defendant Ronald Howard Merker, a former Customs and Border Protection officer assigned to the Miami International Airport, was sentenced today to a term of imprisonment of 61/2 years and a $12,500 fine by the Honorable Richard W. Goldberg, Senior United States District Judge. Merker was convicted by a jury of one count of bribery, one count of conspiracy to bring aliens into the United States for financial gain, and five counts of alien smuggling for financial gain. Mr. Acosta commended the investigative efforts of the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, United State Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Office of Professional Responsibility, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Office of Investigation, and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William White, and Benjamin Daniel. A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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