By Greg Moran
4:06 p.m.Jan. 25, 2013
U-T San Diego


Agent Robert Rosas, 30, of El Centro, was gunned down July 23, 2009, while on patrol alone near Campo. — U.S. Border Patrol

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SAN DIEGO — Federal prosecutors in San Diego have secured another guilty plea in the July 2009 murder of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Robert Rosas Jr., who was lured into an ambush and shot to death while on patrol near Campo.

On Jan. 10, Jose Luis Ramirez Dorantes pleaded guilty to murder of a federal officer during a robbery and carrying a firearm in the commission of a violent crime. He faces up to life in prison at a sentencing scheduled for June.

The guilty plea is the third one in the case. In 2010, Christian Daniel Castro Alvarez, a juvenile, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for his role, and in July 2011, Emilio Samyn Gonzales Arezanas pleaded guilty to murder and has yet to be sentenced.

Another defendant, Marcos Rodriguez Perez, is scheduled to go on trial in May. A fifth man who was indicted, Jose Chacon Morales, remains at large.

Rosas was killed July 23, 2009, near Shockey Truck Trail. Court records say his attackers had planned to rob a Border Patrol agent of his night vision equipment, which they wanted to have to aid in their work of smuggling into the United States unauthorized immigrants.

They made a trail of footprints that led into thick brush from just off the road. An unsuspecting Rosas saw the footprints, got out of his car and was jumped. He was held at gunpoint but got into a struggle with Castro, who was armed. A shot went off during the struggle.

Gonzales then fired two shots, hitting Rosas in the body, authorities said. Rodriguez then fired multiple rounds at Rosas, a married father of two children.

After the shooting, the assailants stole Rosas’ night vision equipment as well as his bag, firearm, handcuffs and other items.

Third guilty plea in killing of border agent | UTSanDiego.com