MCALLEN, Texas (AP) - A Mexican man has been sentenced to 11/2 years in a U.S. prison for trying to bribe an officer to let illegal immigrants slip through a border crossing into Texas.

Prosecutors in McAllen say a judge Wednesday sentenced 31-year-old Jose Luis Huerta-Aguilar of Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. He pleaded guilty Nov. 5 to bribery of a public official.

A Customs and Border Protection agent on June 14 began communicating via radio with Huerta-Aguilar. Prosecutors say Huerta-Aguilar was trying to pass illegal immigrants across the border with no inspection.

Prosecutors say the agent two days later met with Huerta-Aguilar at the Progreso Port of Entry and accepted cash.

Investigators say Huerta-Aguilar is in the U.S. illegally and faces deportation following his prison term.