Feds have 4 in custody in border agent's death

By Greg Moran, UNION-TRIBUNE
Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at 6:49 p.m.

TIJUANA — The man arrested Monday in Tijuana for his role in the ambush murder of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Robert Rosas Jr. in 2009 is the fourth of five people indicted in the killing, federal authorities said Wednesday.

Marcos Rodriguez Perez, 26, is still in Mexico but is expected to be sent to San Diego to face murder and other charges.

Rosas, 30, was killed while on patrol near Campo on July 23, 2009. He was lured into the brush, overpowered and disarmed, then shot when he fought back against his assailants. A juvenile, Christian Daniel Castro Alvarez, pleaded guilty to his role in the crime in November 2009, and is serving a 40-year prison term.

Two other arrests were made after that but not publicized by federal authorities until Wednesday, when the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Diego issued a release confirming Rodriguez’s arrest.

The statement said that Mexican authorities last year arrested Jose Luis Ramirez Dorantes on June 11. He was extradited to the U.S. in December and is facing murder, conspiracy, robbery and other charges stemming from Rosas’ killing. He has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to appear in court on May 24.

On Oct. 8, Emilio Samyn Gonzalez Arezanas was arrested in Mexico and extradited to the U.S. on March 16. He has pleaded not guilty to the same charges and is scheduled to appear in court on April 18.

U.S officials praised the cooperation of Mexican authorities in making the arrests. The investigation into Rosas’ murder is being done by the FBI and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.

Jose Juan Chacon Morales, the fifth person indicted in Rosas’ killing remains at large. The FBI said anyone with information about him can contact the agency at (877) 392-8355.

greg.moran@uniontrib.com • (619) 293-1236 • Twitter @gregmoran

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