Diplomatic Security Investigation Leads to Arrest of Customs and Border Protection Officer

A Customs and Border Protection officer has been arrested on alien smuggling charges following an investigation into passport fraud by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS), Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General; United States Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Office of Professional Responsibility; United States Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Office of Investigation; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The indictments stemmed from an investigation initiated by DS's Miami Field Office.

Defendants Ronald Howard Merker, Clodoaldo Ribeiro, Sidney Herberth Sathler, and Alair Campos have been charged in a criminal Indictment with conspiring to and committing alien smuggling.

According to the Indictment, from October 2005 to July 2007, the defendants brought aliens to the United States, for the purpose of commercial advantage and private financial gain, knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact that such aliens had not received prior official authorization to come to, enter, and reside in the United States.

Defendant Merker, a United States Customs & Border Protection Officer assigned to Miami International Airport, has also been charged with accepting illegal payments in return for allowing aliens, who had not received prior official authorization, to come to, enter and reside in the United States.

Defendant Ribeiro is also charged with illegally reentering the United States after having been deported, fraudulently obtaining a United States passport, and falsely claiming to be a United States citizen.

Michael Foster, Special Agent In Charge of the DS Miami Field Office, said DS's experience in investigating fraudulent U.S. passports, visas and other international travel documents was key to the outcome of this investigation.

“Passport and visa fraud is a threat to the national security of the United States. U.S. passport and visa are the most coveted travel documents in the world, and foreign nationals who have acquired passports and visas fraudulently to enter the United States could perpetrate further illegal acts to include terrorism. These crimes make the United States more vulnerable to terrorism, plain and simple,” said Foster.

R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, commended the cooperative investigative efforts of the five investigating agencies. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William White, Benjamin Daniel, and Eloisa D. Fernandez.

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security is the U.S. Department of State’s law enforcement and security arm. The special agents, engineers, and security professionals of the Bureau are responsible for the security of 285 U.S. diplomatic missions around the world. In the United States, Diplomatic Security personnel protect the U.S. Secretary of State and high-ranking foreign dignitaries and officials visiting the United States, investigate passport and visa fraud, and conduct personnel security investigations. More information about the U.S. Department of State and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security may be obtained at www.state.gov/m/ds.

Contact:
Darby G. Holladay
571-345-2507
Holladaydg@state.gov