United States Attorney Johnny Sutton, Stephen P. Beauchamp, Special Agent in Charge, DOJ Office of Inspector General and Hardrick Crawford, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, El Paso Division, announced today that, 36-year-old MARIO CASTILLO, an FBI language specialist, was arrested this morning in El Paso, Texas, in connection with three separate federal grand jury indictments.

All three indictments were returned yesterday and unsealed today. The first indictment charges Castillo with six counts of unauthorized access of a computer to obtain information for private financial gain and four counts of making a false statement to a federal official. It alleges that between July 13, 2000 to November 12, 2002, Castillo intentionally exceeded his authority and accessed an FBI computer on six different occasions for the purpose of private financial gain.

The indictment also alleges that Castillo knowingly and willfully lied to federal agents when questioned about other paid employment, financial indebtedness, providing confidential information to unauthorized persons, as well as ties and associations with a convicted felon.

The second indictment charges Castillo with one count of trafficking in and using an unauthorized access device with intent to defraud. It alleges that from October 2002 to January 2003, Castillo collected more than $1,000 in money or other things of value from trafficking in and using stolen cellular telephones.

The third indictment charges Castillo with one count of possession of child pornography, one count of receiving child pornography via the Internet and two counts of receipt of obscene material. On May 9, 2003, FBI agents seized a computer from Castillo’s residence. On that computer, investigators discovered several video files and more than a dozen images depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and containing obscene material.

“Employees of the Department of Justice are entrusted to uphold the laws of this country, not violate them,” stated U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton. “Those employees who commit unethical and illegal activities will be held accountable. These indictments are proof of that.”

“The Department of Justice, as its name implies, expects all employees to maintain the utmost integrity and to uphold the high ethical standards set by our Attorney General. Anything less is a disservice to the general public,” stated Stephen P. Beauchamp, Special Agent in Charge, DOJ Office of Inspector General. “It is the role of the Office of the Inspector General to help safeguard that integrity and to work jointly, yet independently, to fully investigate all
instances of employee wrongdoing – particularly when there is a potential compromise of confidential law enforcement information.”

“The El Paso FBI is devastated by the overwhelming sense of betrayal we feel. However, I’m proud of the office for steadfastly adhering to our motto of Fidelity, Bravery and Integrity,” stated Hardrick Crawford, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Castillo remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing next week before U.S. Magistrate Norbert Garney. Castillo faces up to ten years in federal prison if convicted of the access device charge. Each of the remaining charges call for up to five years in federal prison upon conviction.

This case was investigated by the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and the El PasoCounty Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Juanita Fielden and Donna Miller are prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.

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