FBI agent accused of spending thousands at brothels in weapons case
(CBS/AP) LOS ANGELES - An undercover FBI agent has been accused in court documents of spending U.S. taxpayer dollars on prostitutes for himself and others during an international weapons trafficking probe in the Philippines last year.
The agent, who wasn't identified in court documents, allegedly paid up to $2,400 each time he went to brothels with Philippine nationals to reward them for their work to secure weapons to ship to the U.S. without a license, court documents show.
Deputy Federal Public Defender John Littrell filed a motion last week asking a judge to toss out an indictment against his client, Philippine national Sergio Santiago Syjuco, for "outrageous government misconduct." Syjuco, 25, and two others, have been charged with conspiracy and face up to 20 years in prison.
"I have never seen anything like this during my career as a criminal defense lawyer," Littrell told The Associated Press on Monday. "I hope that the Department of Justice takes these allegations seriously, does a complete investigation, and ensures that whoever authorized this outrageous misconduct is held accountable."
FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller declined comment Monday, but federal prosecutors acknowledged in court documents that the agent sought nearly $15,000 in reimbursements for "entertainment" and other expenses related to the investigation. The prosecutors said they don't have any receipts from the clubs, but two of them listed in the filing, "Air Force One" and "Area 51," are suspected brothels.
No charges have been filed against the agent.
Syjuco, Cesar Ubaldo and Arjyl Revereza, a Philippines customs official, were charged earlier this year with violating arms import laws by selling a grenade launcher, a mortar launcher and other weapons to an undercover agent who said he was interested in buying high-powered weapons that could be used by drug cartels in the U.S. and Mexico.
The case was part of a federal investigation of Asian organized crime groups involved in the illicit trafficking of firearms.