Tucson Border Patrol Agent Charged with Multiple Felonies
A Border Patrol agent in the Tucson Sector has been charged with numerous felony counts, including ten related to child sex trafficking. This comes amidst ongoing investigations into sexual misconduct among U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees in Arizona.
Bert Conrad Yeager, age 39, from Wilcox, faces charges of “pandering,” which includes six counts of encouraging prostitution, along with one count of attempted child sex trafficking. Additionally, he has been implicated in two fraudulent schemes occurring in Cochise County from July 2023 to March 2024, according to the local prosecutor’s office.
On Thursday, further charges related to drug use were added against Yeager. Specifically, he is charged with possession or use of anabolic steroids, including trenbolone and testosterone, and for selling or transporting these substances, alongside possession of drug-related paraphernalia in 2025.
A spokesperson for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) indicated that Yeager was arrested on June 17 following a search warrant executed based on allegations of child sex trafficking, fraud, and pandering.
“CBP emphasizes honor and integrity in every aspect of our mission,” a statement from CBP said. “The vast majority of CBP employees act honorably in their duties, working diligently to safeguard our country. It’s important to note that the arrest is a mere complaint, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.”
Interestingly, Yeager was a suspect in a previously closed rape case in Tucson ten years ago. According to a statement from a CBP special agent filed in Cochise County Superior Court, there was no investigation into the allegations against him at the time. However, Tucson Police Department officials contest this claim, asserting that they did indeed report the incident.
A police report was submitted in October 2014, but the case was eventually closed because the alleged victims chose not to pursue the matter further, as noted by Tucson Police spokesman Frank Maggos.
In the ongoing investigation, it was revealed that Yeager had been misrepresenting his work hours and had engaged in questionable activities while on duty. On several occasions, he returned home early and sought money for sexual acts while being reimbursed for expenses through government funds. Over a span from 2021 to 2024, his transactions with women totaled around $42,400, including payments to a known victim of sex trafficking when she was a minor.
Yeager’s behavior seems to reflect a troubling pattern of workplace harassment, with concerns raised by his Border Patrol colleagues about his temper and treatment of women.
Yeager, who began his career with the Border Patrol in 2011, is currently being held at the Cochise County Jail.
He is not alone in facing such serious charges; several other Arizona-based CBP employees have also encountered similar legal troubles. For instance, Ramon Marquez, a border agent based in Yuma, was arrested in May on multiple charges involving a minor, while Aaron Thomas Mitchell, CBP’s Port Director, was sentenced to 27 years for sexual assault offenses against a middle school student.
The gravity and frequency of these allegations raise significant concerns about the practices and culture within CBP, with critics pointing to a longstanding issue of accountability within the agency.
Meanwhile, the investigation into past allegations and the handling of misconduct cases continue to be points of contention among law enforcement and community advocates. Many are calling for systemic changes to ensure accountability and improve oversight in agencies like CBP.
