Thread: Reyes relative kidnapped; U.S. helps secure release

Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Reyes relative kidnapped; U.S. helps secure release
By Daniel Borunda and Ramon Bracamontes / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 06/25/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT

A woman who reportedly is a relative of Congressman Silvestre Reyes was kidnapped in Juárez, then released with the help of U.S. law enforcement agencies.

Reyes, D-Texas, declined to comment. The kidnapping was first reported on the Narcosphere Web site, which attributed the report and knowledge of the victim's relationship to Reyes to a DEA official in El Paso.

Though the Web site reported the kidnapped person was Reyes' sister-in-law, another federal agency and other officials are saying that some of the facts in the online report might be wrong, including the connection to Reyes.

Relatives of Reyes told Channel 9-KTSM (cable Channel 10) off camera that they were told not to comment.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement was the lead U.S. agency in the incident, but the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration were also involved. However, neither agency would release any details, including when the incident took place.

"I have nothing to say about that," DEA spokesman Matthew Taylor, who was quoted in the Narco News report, said.

ICE released only the following statement: "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), along with several other federal law enforcement agencies, recently worked cooperatively to assist Mexican law enforcement authorities to help secure the release of a victim who was kidnapped in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico.

"Although the victim was returned to her family, this investigation is ongoing. Therefore, no further information is releasable at this time," the statement read.

Kidnappings in Juárez generally target Mexican citizens, and spokeswomen for the FBI and ICE would not disclose whether the kidnapped woman was a citizen of the U.S. or Mexico.

FBI spokeswoman Special Agent Andrea Simmons did say the bureau had received no reports of U.S. citizens kidnapped in Juárez.

The FBI and ICE have worked with Mexican authorities in the past regarding kidnappings on the border.

The incident comes as kidnappings have become more common in Juárez possibly due to drug trafficking gangs snatching victims targeted for death or marks held for ransom to raise funds for the ongoing war for control of the region's smuggling corridor.

Fears of kidnappings, extortion and violence that has claimed nearly 500 lives this year have caused some Juarenses to move to El Paso and even seek asylum in the United States.

The killings have continued daily. Monday, an unidentified man's dismembered body was found in Rancho Anapra, state police said. The head, arms and legs were found in separate backpacks about 50 meters away from the torso, which was wrapped in a blanket. At least four deaths occurred Tuesday.

A group of about 300 owners of junk yards, mechanic shops, used-car lots and other auto-related businesses have closed down because of kidnappings and robberies, the Norte de Ciudad Juárez newspaper reported Tuesday.

Last week, four members of the union of yonkeros (junk yard owners) were kidnapped and released after paying thousands of dollars, the Norte reported.

Crime news was not all bad. Juárez police said Tuesday that home burglaries dropped by 60 percent in the first five months of the year compared with 2007.

Silvio Gonzalez, the public affairs officer for the U.S. Consulate in Juárez, said there were no figures available on how U.S. citizens have been kidnapped or killed in Juárez but that U.S. citizens have been kidnapped in Mexico in the past. Authorities said that families of victims linked to the drug trade may be reluctant to report kidnappings.

A current U.S. State Department travel alert for Mexico mentions that dozens of U.S. citizens were kidnapped or murdered in Tijuana in 2007.

Asked whether Juárez was safe to visit, Gonzalez responded, "That's a very personal decision."

Gonzalez said potential visitors can make their own choice after viewing the Mexico travel alert, which is available at the Web site travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3028.html

"You have thousands of people crossing the border every day and they do so for various purposes. Shopping, business," Gonzalez said.

Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com; 546-6102.

Ramon Bracamontes may be reached at rbracamontes@elpasotimes.com; 546-6142.

Read past stories on the violence in Juarez at www.elpasotimes.com/juarez.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_9687466

Reyes, D-Texas, declined to comment.

This is almost as good as conformation. If it were not ture, he would simply state that fact.

They use the "no comment" line when saying anything will only make matters worse.

Dixie

FBI spokeswoman Special Agent Andrea Simmons did say the bureau had received no reports of U.S. citizens kidnapped in Juárez.

Kidnappings in Juárez generally target Mexican citizens, and spokeswomen for the FBI and ICE would not disclose whether the kidnapped woman was a citizen of the U.S. or Mexico.

From this it doesn't sound like she is an American citizen.

Silvio Gonzalez, the public affairs officer for the U.S. Consulate in Juárez, said there were no figures available on how U.S. citizens have been kidnapped or killed in Juárez but that U.S. citizens have been kidnapped in Mexico in the past. Authorities said that families of victims linked to the drug trade may be reluctant to report kidnappings.

A current U.S. State Department travel alert for Mexico mentions that dozens of U.S. citizens were kidnapped or murdered in Tijuana in 2007.

Asked whether Juárez was safe to visit, Gonzalez responded, "That's a very personal decision."

Gonzalez said potential visitors can make their own choice after viewing the Mexico travel alert, which is available at the Web site travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3028.html

U.S. Consulates are suppose to assist and protect American citizens in foreign countries not cover up dangers. Our U.S. State Department is failing in its duty.

Just why aren't statistics of deaths, murders, kidnappings, robberies, sexual assaults, etc. happening to American citizens kept--to avoid 'insulting' Mexico, hurting Mexico's tourist trade and making Americans aware how dangerous Mexico is?
As the public affairs officer for the U.S. Consulate in Juárez, whose 'public affairs' are more important, Mexico's or United States citizens?

With statistics Mr. Gonzalez, Americans could make a better 'personal decision' whether to travel to Juárez and Mexico.

Does Silvio Gonzalez, the public affairs officer for the U.S. Consulate in Juárez and the other consulate members receive extra pay for being in a dangerous area?

Asked whether Juárez was safe to visit, Gonzalez responded, "That's a very personal decision."

Gonzalez said potential visitors can make their own choice after viewing the Mexico travel alert, which is available at the Web site travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3028.html

"That's a very personal decision"! What does Gonzales mean? That Americans should decide if they want to be kidnapped or murdered by Mexicans?

i say we call and leave mr reyes messages.
this is a former border patrol chief of the el paso sector and
who once stood against Ramos and Compean

Asked whether Juárez was safe to visit, Gonzalez responded, "That's a very personal decision."

Hmm...I see. They should of asked her, would you travel to Juarez right now with your family on vacation?

Reyes is a PRO ILLEGAL Open Borders supporter, the last person we should waste tax money assisting his relatives involved in crime in their home country!

Originally Posted by lccat

Reyes is a PRO ILLEGAL Open Borders supporter, the last person we should waste tax money assisting his relatives involved in crime in their home country!

Reyes is also a former sector chief for the border patrol who said Ramos and Compean were guilty and should have gotten the trial and prison time.
he also never returned their phone calls when asking for any kind of help

Can you spell "Karma my friends"?

Reyes sought U.S. help for kidnapped relative
By Diana Washington Valdez / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 06/26/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT

A plea for help from U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes' office led to a massive international effort to rescue a relative of his who was kidnapped in Juárez, according to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo.

June 19, an aide to Reyes, D-Texas, contacted the Immigration and Customs Enforcement assistant attache in Mexico to report that a Mexican citizen related to Reyes had been kidnapped, the memo obtained by the El Paso Times and posted on a Web site states.

The effort to rescue the businesswoman, identified as Erika Posselt, included contacting officials in Washington, D.C, the FBI, the Chihuahua State Attorney General's office and Mexican federal authorities.

Reyes declined to comment on the memo or the case.

According to the memo, "a group of armed men kidnapped (Reyes' relative) from the ACCRIPARTS, an auto glass store she owns in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico.

"Additionally, agents learned that the kidnappers had called (her) brother and demanded a ransom of $500,000 (pesos) in exchange for her safe return. The kidnappers stated that (she) would be killed if he (the brother) contacted law enforcement authorities."

The memo addressed to ICE Assistant Secretary Julie Myers in Washington and dated June 23 said Reyes' relative owned the auto glass store in Juárez.
Phil Jordan, former director of the El Paso Intelligence Center, said the ICE document also was posted on the Internet by www.narconews.com.

The memo stated that "On June 19, 2008, the Assistant Attache in Juárez was contacted by a Congressional Aide (CA) for Congressman Silvestre Reyes ... (the aide) advised that (the victim), a Mexican national and relative of Congressman Reyes' wife, had been kidnapped in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico.

"Subsequently, the ICE Assistant Attache (in) Juárez requested and received the full assistance of the ICE SAC (special agent in charge) El Paso office, and coordinated a meeting in El Paso, TX with the Chihuahua State Police to recover the kidnapped victim."

A spokesman for Myers at ICE headquarters in Washington could not be reached for comment.

Former ICE official Miguel Contreras said, "it's a conflict of interest for Congressman Reyes to try to influence the case. He is in a position to affect the funding and others matters involving ICE. Also, if someone at ICE is going to be investigated, the congressman will be biased in favor of ICE."

Jordan said that in his 30 years of law enforcement, he had never seen a member of Congress get involved in helping to investigate a crime against a Mexican citizen in Mexico.

"I'm glad nothing happened to the lady and that it all worked out," Jordan said. "But if you, as a U.S. congressman, will do this for a Mexican citizen, then you'd better be prepared to do it for American citizens who are kidnapped in Mexico. "

Leticia Zamarripa, ICE spokeswoman in El Paso, said the federal law enforcement agency was continuing its investigation and had no comment regarding the memo or the case.

"It is not unusual for ICE to collaborate with Mexican authorities on a variety of cases, such as human smugglings, arms trafficking, fugitive child predators, without regard to nationality," Zamarripa said.

Several years ago, the FBI office in El Paso looked into the disappearance of at least 30 U.S. citizens in Mexico. The cases culminated in the 1999 U.S.-Mexico "mass graves" investigation in Juárez that led to nine bodies buried at four ranches.

Back then, FBI officials said they justified the investigation in Mexico because of the possibility they might find missing U.S. citizens.

According to the recent ICE memo, Posselt was released a couple of days after her kidnappers received a $32,000 ransom. She and another kidnapping victim who paid $56,000 for his release were dropped off in a public location. It was not known if the amounts were in dollars or pesos.

After her release, Posselt refused medical treatment and was allowed to cross the U.S. border "for security reasons," the memo stated.

Wednesday, Juárez Mayor Jose Reyes Ferriz announced that a special Mexican federal anti-kidnapping team had been sent to Juárez to investigate the recent wave of kidnappings aimed at business people.

In May, unknown persons posted a video on YouTube.com warning business people in Juárez that they would become the next targets in the ongoing violence that has claimed more than 500 lives since January.

Narcosphere, an online Web site that specializes in reporting on drug trafficking, first reported the kidnapping earlier this week.


Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at dvaldez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6140.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_9695444?s ... st_emailed