On April 20, 1997, Wallace hosted a "60 Minutes" segment that claimed Customs officials were allowing trucks with drugs to cross easily into the United States.

As proof of his allegations Wallace cited what he claimed was a U.S. Customs memo written by Rudy Camacho, then the San Diego Customs district director.

Last week, Michael Horner, a Customs department whistleblower who had anonymously provided Wallace and "60 Minutes" with the memo, admitted he had fabricated the document.

Horner, 47, pleaded guilty to two felony counts last week.

The bogus memo "60 Minutes" said was written by Camacho provided instructions to Customs inspectors at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry to give easy clearance to a trucking company suspected of drug smuggling for a Mexican cartel.

Wallace never bothered to interview Camacho before broadcasting the allegations. Camacho later sued Wallace and won. The case got almost no national publicity. As part of its settlement, "60 Minutes" apologized on-air for making the allegations about Camacho.

Still, Wallace, who made his career demanding others answer his questions, has been ducking questions from the press about the Camacho controversy.

Wallace�s deceptive use of the fabricated document, which could have been vetted with a minimum of journalistic footwork, fits a pattern with the veteran broadcaster.

Earlier this year, NewsMax.com reported on Wallace�s "60 Minutes" attack piece on the 5-million-member Farm Bureau, a group he said had a conservative political agenda. Wallace didn�t disclose that his "60 Minutes" segment had been produced with the help of a radical animal rights group that has opposed the Farm Bureau.

Wallace has openly admitted he lies when it suits his purposes.

During the controversy over tobacco whistleblower Jeffrey Wigand, Wallace appeared on the "Charlie Rose" program with colleague Morley Safer. Wallace was asked point blank by Rose if he or "60 Minutes" had paid Wigand for his cooperation. Wallace denied doing so.

Later, after documents in a legal case showed that "60 Minutes" and Wallace had indeed paid Wigand $13,000 as a consultant, Wallace admitted he had lied on Rose's program.