Former U.S. Border Patrol agents Raul and Fidel Villareal found guilty of smuggling illegal Mexicans in the U.S.

Two brothers who worked for the U.S. Border Patrol have been found guilty of smuggling illegal Mexican into America in their official government vehicles.

Authorities said Raul and Fidel Villareal created an elaborate human smuggling scheme across the Mexican border from 2005 to 2006.

With the help of Mexican smugglers, authorities said forty-two year old Raul and 44-year-old Fidel picked up the immigrants after they were guided across the border on foot and transported them into the U.S in their official government vehicles.

Just before they were arrested in 2006, the brothers fled the U.S. and moved to Mexico.  They were captured in Tijuana in 2008.

Authorities said some of the 500 immigrants who were smuggled into the country were known drug dealers while others had committed other serious offenses in Mexico.

Ironically, while he was working for Border Control, Raul had played the role of a Mexican smuggler in a public service announcement that was meant to discourage immigrants from making dangerous border crossings.

The smuggling scheme is said to have generated up to $4million in profits for the brothers.

The brothers face up to 50 years in prison when they are sentenced.