Thread: Denver: Mexican 'poster boy' suspect arrives to face charges

Mexican suspect arrives to face charges

The poster boy for a new state law to prevent illegal immigrants from escaping punishment through deportation was back in a Colorado courtroom Thursday after extradition from a Mexican jail.

Fredy Lopez-Gamez's name was tossed around often at the Capitol this year, as lawmakers debated one of the few successful bills targeting illegal immigration.

The new law aims to close the revolving door from Colorado jail to deportation and back to Colorado. It prohibits judges from dismissing a case involving a deported illegal immigrant.

Legislators and law-enforcement officers argued that if Lopez-Gamez had not gotten a "get out of jail free card" on a drug bust, he might not have been available to help with a kidnapping and extortion plot.

"I couldn't be more happy that he is back," said Rep. Amy Stephens, the Monument Republican who sponsored the legislation. "I only wish that we could have fixed the problem earlier."

Lopez-Gamez was accused in June 2005 of selling cocaine to a police officer, but chose deportation rather than face prosecution. The case was dropped when he didn't show up for court.

But the Mexican national was back in Colorado Springs within a week of the case dismissal, authorities said. Soon afterward, police say he took part in a November 2005 kidnapping and extortion plot against a shop owner.

Lopez-Gamez, his brother and two other men pulled the Colorado Springs businessman out of his truck, pistol-whipped him and demanded an $80,000 ransom from his brother, police said.

Lopez-Gamez fled to Mexico, where he was eventually arrested. He was extradited to Colorado Springs to face the kidnapping charge two weeks ago, according to the El Paso County Sheriff's Department.

Lopez-Gamez was in court Thursday to hear the charges against him. This time, he doesn't have the option of bonding out, said Denise Minish, El Paso County deputy district attorney.

Even if bail were an option, Lopez-Gamez probably would have a harder time finding an agent to post bond.

The new law says a bonding agent for an illegal immigrant will forfeit that money if the accused is deported and doesn't show up in court. Prior to the law, money put up for an illegal immigrant was returned if the immigrant was deported.

Staff writer Jennifer Brown can be reached at 303-954-1593 or jenbrown@denverpost.com.

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_6308754#

Originally Posted by Nouveauxpoor

Fredy Lopez-Gamez's name was tossed around...

Tossed around so much that I wanted to puke!