Couple arrested for allegedly trying to bribe Border Patrol agent

A Texas couple has been jailed on charges they tried to bribe a Border Patrol agent into letting them smuggle a family member and 10 kilograms of cocaine into the country, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. FBI agents arrested Debbie Ayala, 25, of San Elizario, Texas, and David Rogelio Leyva, 27, of Socorro, Texas, on Friday in Horizon City, Texas. They were booked into the Do a Ana County Detention Center shortly after. If convicted of conspiracy and bribery, the defendants could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison and $500,000 in fines for conspiracy and bribery, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. On Jan. 12, 2010, Ayala and Leyva allegedly tried to offer $700 to $800 to the agent so they could smuggle Ayala's cousin from Mexico - possibly through Deming, according to the indictment. Ayala also allegedly offered to pay $1,000 to $2,000 if she could be allowed to smuggle in a quantity of cocaine, but the agent refused the offer, according to the unsealed indictment. On Jan. 26, 2010, Ayala and Leyva allegedly met with a second officer at a business in El Paso, offering to pay $500 per kilogram of smuggled cocaine, according to the indictment...more