BP Agent's Home Had Secret Room: Feds

The agent is accused of harboring his undocumented father

Investigators who searched the Imperial Beach home of a U.S. Border Patrol agent said they found an undocumented man in a hidden room along with evidence of drug dealing.

According to the FBI, Marcos Gerardo Manzano Jr., 26, was arrested Monday at the Imperial Beach Border Patrol Station and stands accused of harboring illegal immigrants, including his father.

Around 6 a.m.Tuesday, a SWAT team raided Manzano's house in the 3600 block of Shooting Star Drive in San Ysidro and arrested suspected undocumented immigrant Jose Alfredo Garrido-Morena, also 26.

β€œIt looked like a movie. It was a big scene," said neighbor Daniel Lazo. "Seems impossible. They were everywhere."
 
"They went inside every house," Lazo said. "We couldn't get out. It was crazy.” 

According to a complaint unsealed in U.S. District Court in San Diego Tuesday afternoon, Garrido-Morena had been living at the residence along with Manzano and the accused agent's 46-year-old father, Marcos Gerardo Manzano Sr.

The elder Manzano faces federal immigration-violation charges in the case.  Tuesday night, the FBI was still looking for him.
Manzano Jr. and Garrido-Morena appeared in court Wednesday morning to face formal charges.
Prosecutors said 61 grams of methamphetamine was found inside the suspect's home along with packaging material indicating a drug dealing operation.
Also, investigators found a hidden room under the patio, which is where Morena was found hiding.
Prosecutors say bond should be set at $200,000 because Manzano, Jr. could possibly flee to Mexico. The magistrate set bond at $75,000 and said Manzano should surrender his passport.
Manzo's mother and aunt sat in the hearing Wednesday. His mother said she is "very shocked" by charges.

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