Unmerry Christmas for famous ex-Border Patrol agent Ignacio Ramos
By Diana Washington Valdez / El Paso Times
Posted: 12/24/2009 12:00:00 AM MST


EL PASO -- One of the nation's most famous and controversial lawmen became a crime victim this holiday season.

Thieves stole $3,000 worth of Christmas gifts and a happy homecoming from former El Paso Border Patrol Agent Ignacio Ramos on Wednesday.

Ramos, 40, said thieves broke into his vehicle and made off with all his family's holiday gifts and personal items.

"They stole all our gifts, including the kids' presents," said Ramos, who was driving to El Paso with his wife and two sons for a Christmas reunion with relatives.

Ramos was one of two U.S. Border Patrol agents sentenced to prison in the shooting of a Mexican drug smuggler. He was released from prison earlier this year after becoming a cause célebre for border security groups.

Former President George W. Bush commuted Ramos' 11-year sentence in March, along with the sentence of fellow former Border Patrol Agent Jose Alonso Compean, who was to serve 10 years.

Ramos said thieves broke into his 2004 Ford Expedition, which was parked at a La Quinta Inn outside San Antonio. He and his wife, Monica, and their two sons had spent the night there.

His SUV does not have an alarm system. The same thing happened to three other vehicles that also were parked at the motel early Wednesday.

The missing items included jewelry, clothes and PlayStations for the kids.

"We were lucky, because at least they didn't smash our windows to get in like they did with the other cars," Ramos said. "They broke our car lock to
gain access to the inside.

"We should have brought all our things inside, but we never thought something like this would happen."

"I don't know who could have done something like this," said Cynthia Grall, Ramos' sister-in-law. "Ignacio had worked overtime at his job to earn enough money to buy everyone gifts. This was going to be our first Christmas with the family all together since he got out of prison."

Grall said her brother-in-law, who lives in Houston, reported the theft to police. The Ramos family was expected to arrive in El Paso late Wednesday.

"At least, they're all safe," Grall said.


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