Thread: Ex-border agents sentenced for shooting smuggler

Ex-border agents sentenced for shooting smuggler

EL PASO, Texas Two ex-Border Patrol agents have been sentenced to more than a decade in prison for wounding a Mexican drug smuggler in 2005 and trying to cover it up.

One officer got eleven years, the other, 12. They'll begin their terms in January.

The men were found guilty of assault with a deadly weapon, obstruction of justice, and a civil rights violation. The convictions have drawn criticism from members of Congress and other supporters.

The smuggler was shot as he crossed the Rio Grande into Mexico after a confrontation with the two officers. The agents claimed self-defense, but prosecutors said there was no reason to fire. The officers admitted not reporting the shooting.

Republican James Sensenbrenner wants a congressional investigation and the patrol officers union has established a legal defense fund.

http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp?S=5564511&nav=AbC0

Republican James Sensenbrenner wants a congressional investigation and the patrol officers union has established a legal defense fund.

Sensenbrenner ought to do it right now.

If the GOP gets wiped out in November, there's not going to be an investigation.

The corruption in Mexico has crossed the border and has infested our government and legal system.

The corruption in Mexico has crossed the border and has infested our government and legal system.

Actually, I think this is home grown corruption. The corruption of our government is brought to us by George Bush, while the corruption of our legal system is brought by his lackey, Mr. Gonzales. It goes beyond corruption, though, to treason.

Former Border Patrol agents sentenced to prison

Former Border Patrol agents sentenced to prison (4:30 p.m.)
By Louie Gilot / El Paso Times
Article Launched:10/19/2006 04:23:32 PM MDT
The two former U.S. Border Patrol agents whose conviction of shooting a drug smuggler in the buttocks caused a national movement to free them were sentenced today.
Ignacio Ramos was given an 11-year sentence in prison -- a 10-year mandatory sentence for the assault with a deadly weapon charge, plus one year for the lesser charges. Jose Alonso Compean was given a 12-year sentence -- a 10-year mandatory sentence for the assault with a deadly weapon, plus two years for the lesser charges.

Ramos and Compean were found guilty of assault with serious bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon, discharge of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, a civil-rights charge and obstruction of justice in the Feb. 17, 2005, shooting of Osvaldo Aldrete Davila near Fabens.

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone ruled that the two former agents will remain free until Jan. 17, when they must surrender themselves. But at that point, the judge could let them remain out on bond during the appeals process.

"Federal agents who protect our border

deserve our respect, gratitude and trust -- it is a difficult and dangerous job," United States Attorney Johnny Sutton said in a news release after the sentencing. "But when law enforcement officers use their badge as a shield for carrying out crimes and then engage in a cover up, we cannot look the other way. Agents Compean and Ramos shot an unarmed, fleeing suspect in the back and lied about it."

http://www.elpasotimes.com/breakingnews/ci_4517799

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Can you say injustice? I guess the BP really arent allowed to do their jobs.

I have personally written letters to everyone from the judge to the President of the USA on this issue. The President has the power to pardon these two men. I don't expect he has the guts, though.

At first, I was reserving judgement on this issue because sometimes local agents turn out to be just as guilty as they people they are arresting.
Now that the court has spoken and the only thing these guys are guilty of is covering up the fact that they did their job, now that the facts came out that the person they shot was, indeed, nothing but a drug smuggler, I am more convinced than ever that the Mexican drug cartel has taken over not only the local gov't but even state and federal gov't officials on the border.

What few Americans are still on the border are desparate for the federal gov't to step in and take back our cities and towns but that isn't to be. Our leaders have betrayed us and if we don't all leave here soon, we will wake up one morning and find that we are Mexican citizens if we aren't murdered in our beds.

For me, the real outrage is that this case was vigorously pursued by the Department of Homeland Security. But the end result is that 2 brave, Patriotic Americans, and good fathers to boot, will be sent to prison for being heroes (unless the appeal is successful). And the drug-runner was given complete immunity by the DHS, even though he committed a serious felony. How does all this help protect our Homeland? It doesn't make sense. The DHS is a useless and counter-productive department, and should be done away with, especially since government is too big anyway. President Bush has the power to nullify the convictions. Bush once said that "no child should be left behind". But the children of Ramos & Compean are in danger of being left behind, growing up without their fatherly influence, and yet Bush is apparently doing nothing.

Bush once said that "no child should be left behind". But the children of Ramos & Compean are in danger of being left behind, growing up without their fatherly influence, and yet Bush is apparently doing nothing.

I really think that all of our children, of American Citizens and Legal Immigrants, are being left behind under this government, while government officials "Hispander" to the Illegals and their children. This entire nation, and it's future, is being sacrificed by and for the benefit of Bush, Cheney, and their corporate masters.