A former deportation officer with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for laundering drug proceeds. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Christopher Washington Toral, 49, from Spring, Texas, pleaded guilty on February 27. U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison also ordered Toral to serve two years of supervised release after his prison term and pay a $20,000 fine.
During the sentencing hearing, additional details were presented about Toral’s actions while employed as a federal law enforcement officer. The court heard that he used his badge and firearm to protect what he believed were cartel drug funds.
“Federal officers are imbued with tremendous power, and with that power comes a great responsibility to uphold the people’s trust. When those same officers choose to engage in corrupt acts, they not only break the law, they strike at the heart of public confidence in our system of government,” said Ganjei. “In choosing personal gain over his duty to his fellow citizens, Toral effectively chose prison over honor.”
“When a sworn officer uses the badge to shield criminal activity, the damage extends far beyond a single crime; it strikes at the very foundation of public trust,” said FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams. “Christopher Toral decided to put personal gain over public duty. Today’s sentencing is the result of a shared commitment by FBI Houston and DHS-Office of Inspector General (OIG) to root out corruption wherever it hides.”
“Serving the public as a law enforcement officer demands the utmost integrity,” said DHS Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari Ph.D. “We, along with our partners at the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, remain resolute to ensure law enforcement officers who break the public’s trust are held accountable.”
Toral joined Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2008 and worked at a processing center in Conroe, Texas. In early 2023, over two months, he transported $700,000 in what he believed were drug proceeds while using his official capacity as cover.
As part of an undercover operation in February 2023, Toral agreed to move $200,000 from Dallas to Houston for individuals he thought were involved in narcotics trafficking; later that month he made another trip transporting an additional $200,000 under similar circumstances.
In March 2023, Toral flew from Newark, New Jersey to Houston carrying $300,000 in suspected drug money and bypassed airport security by misusing his status as a law enforcement officer.
He received cash payments for these activities.
Toral remains free on bond but will be required to surrender voluntarily at a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility yet to be determined.
The investigation was conducted by both FBI Houston and DHS-Office of Inspector General (OIG). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Ferko and John Marck prosecuted this case.
