DOJ: Former Customs Officer Guilty of Public Corruption

Beaumont CBP officer accepted illegal gratuity from merchant vessel; faces up to 2 years in federal prison.

BEAUMONT, TX – U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced today that a 39-year-old former U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer, assigned to Port Arthur, Texas has pleaded guilty to public corruption in the Eastern District of Texas.

TYRUS KIDD, of Beaumont, was charged in a superseding indictment on Dec. 16, 2009, with accepting an illegal gratuity and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone.

According to the superseding indictment, on August 23, 2009, Kidd allegedly demanded and subsequently accepted illegal gratuities from the Captain of the Motor Vessel Chaconia for conducting an inspection of the vessel. Kidd was first indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 9, 2009, and arrested by Special Agents of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Internal Affairs.

Kidd faces up to 2 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Internal Affairs, Houston Field Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David H. Henderson, Jr.