By Socalj from Borderland Beat
A New Mexico man is suspected of offering to pay up to $1,000 for information and details about the personal lives of US Border Patrol agents and threatening to torture them.
“We will pay for any addresses of Border Patrol agents!! $200 your way if you get me a border patrol agent's address. $1K if you get me they mommas address,” the text messages state, according to a screenshot. “We offer $$$ for information on BP agents. Top dollar on good info. I'll post us torturing any bp agent u send.” Read several Telegram messages seen by US Customs & Border Patrol (CBP).
The FBI is investigating a Las Cruces man, who hasn't been charged or named publically yet. Investigators believe he's been sending messages over the encrypted app Telegram, offering to pay $200 for addresses of Border Patrol agents and even addresses of their immediate family members, including the agents' mothers. The suspect also asked for details on agents' rankings and links to social media accounts for kids of Border Patrol agents.
“Fsho bro we're looking for more info on. Like rankings & Child's social medias stuff like that.” showed one of the Telegram messages. Another message also threatens to post videos of “torturing any Border Patrol agent” that is sent the suspect's way.
The search warrant also detailed how agents messaged the man earlier this month asking how they would get paid. This likely led to their tracking him down and discovering his identity.
While the suspect hasn't been charged yet, he could face a charge of Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer.
Border Patrol Alert Memo
The threats were reported by Border Patrol and prompted an email warning from the El Paso regional office. “On October 10, 2023, the El Paso Sector Intelligence and Operations Center (EPT-IOC) received information regarding a threatening message concerning Border Patrol Agents (BPA),” the Border Patrol letter to agents states.
Details of the messages and threats are listed along with a warning for agents to remain cognizant and careful of their surroundings.
Borderland Beat was able to independently verify the legitimacy of the internal alert memo regarding the threats. Officials in Texas and Washington said internal rumors that Mexican cartels are behind the messages were not confirmed. The FBI is looking at this one suspect currently.
Read the original article in its entirety at Borderland Beat.
