A Border Patrol Agent from the Tucson Sector faces 24 felony charges, including ten counts related to child sex trafficking, alongside updates on several sexual misconduct cases involving U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employees in Arizona.
Bert Conrad Yeager, 39, who works as a border agent in Wilcox, has been charged with six counts of “pandering,” which basically means he allegedly encouraged others to engage in prostitution. He also faces a charge of attempted child sex trafficking, plus two separate fraud charges in Cochise County dated between July 2023 and March 2024, according to the Cochise County Lawyer’s Office.
Recently, county prosecutors added five drug-related felony charges against Yeager, including possession or use of anabolic steroids like trenbolone and testosterone, as well as charges for selling or transporting those substances. This was all discovered in 2025.
A spokesperson from CBP explained that their Office of Professional Responsibility arrested Yeager in Wilcox on June 17 and executed a search warrant after allegations surfaced concerning child sex trafficking, fraudulent activities, and pandering.
In an email statement, CBP emphasized its commitment to integrity, stating, “Most CBP employees act honorably to keep our country safe.” They also mentioned that the arrest is an allegation, and Yeager is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Interestingly, Yeager was previously a suspect in a 2014 Tucson rape case, although it appears that CBP did not investigate those allegations, as outlined in a statement from a CBP Special Agent. This statement surfaced during a recent court proceeding in Cochise County.
However, the Tucson Police Department (TPD) disputes this, claiming they did report the rape allegations to CBP, as indicated by spokesperson Officer Frank Maggos. After submitting the report in October 2014, the case was closed because the alleged victims chose not to pursue it, according to TPD.
Yeager reportedly threatened one victim with violence during the 2014 incident, a claim captured in a text message mentioned in the recent investigation. Following that, an ongoing probe by CBP began in September 2023, which looked into claims that Yeager misrepresented his work hours and fraudulently sought reimbursements for trips.
The investigation revealed troubling patterns: Yeager frequently came home early from his shifts, allegedly soliciting sex while on duty, and was reimbursed using government funds, including payments during stays at a Pima County hotel from 2021 to 2024. In total, he is reported to have made payments of $42,400 in connection with 231 transactions involving women, including $12,161 paid for encounters with a young victim who was previously identified as a minor in a separate sex trafficking investigation.
Yeager’s behavior has raised serious concerns among his colleagues. Reports indicated that the management at the Wilcox Border Patrol Station expressed fears about his temper and described his hostile attitude towards women, with some staff apprehensive about his unpredictable reactions.
Since joining the Border Patrol in 2011, Yeager is now being held at Cochise County Jail. His case isn’t isolated—several CBP employees in Arizona have been charged or found guilty of various sexual crimes recently.
In a separate instance this year, Ramon Marquez, a 31-year-old border agent in Yuma, was charged with sexual conduct involving a 16-year-old girl and for recording those interactions. Port Director Aaron Thomas Mitchell was sentenced to 27 years in prison for a similar conviction involving a minor earlier this year.
There are ongoing concerns about the culture of accountability within the CBP. Critics argue that issues of sexual misconduct and other crimes among agents are systemic. Ricky Garza, a policy advisor, points out the long-standing culture of immunity within the agency, where abusive behavior has been documented yet not adequately addressed.
Former Border Patrol agent Jen Budd adds that the agency has historically nurtured a hostile environment for women, noting that only about 5% of agents are female. She emphasizes that institutional attitudes perpetuate victimization narratives rather than addressing misconduct seriously. Overall, as aggressive enforcement efforts ramp up and oversight diminishes, many fear that vulnerable communities, especially immigrants, remain at heightened risk.
