MIAMI -- Three Secret Service agents have pleaded guilty to stealing $1,300 seized from ATM thieves, covering up the crimes and lying to prosecutors, according to an Associated Press report.
James Smith, Luis Flores and Manuel Flores, who is not related to Luis, pleaded guilty on Dec. 17. All three worked for the arm of the Secret Service that handles credit card fraud.
Smith and Luis Flores arrested two men suspected of stealing thousands of dollars from ATMs. Smith admitted pocketing $1,309 he seized from the thieves' car, while the other agent told prosecutors that a third suspect had evaded arrest, when in reality the man was an informant they helped escape.
Luis Flores was not involved in the October 2000 arrest, but knew about cover-up and told the informant to stick to the agents' version.
Smith faces 10 months in prison; the other two will likely get probation.
