Thread: CO: Authorities: Hit-and-run suspects are illegal immigrants

DENVER (AP) - Authorities say all four people arrested in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash in Denver were in the country illegally.

Police say 21-year-old parking valet Jose Medina was killed Saturday when he was hit by a vehicle while helping a patron out of their car at 9th Avenue and Lincoln Street, outside the Rockstar Lounge.

The Denver Post reports that two of those arrested had previous run-ins with the law and their names were forwarded to federal immigration authorities.

Norma Paola Vera-Nolasco, who was arrested Wednesday after boarding a flight to Mexico, was arrested in 2008 in Aurora for allegedly driving without a license or insurance. She was released after posting bond.

The Immigrations and Customs Enforcement says it doesn't have the resources to detain every suspected illegal immigrant arrested.

Eliu Montes-Garcia was previously arrested on traffic and drug offenses and apparently re-entered the United States twice after being deported.

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx? ... &catid=339

Norma Paola Vera-Nolasco, who was arrested Wednesday after boarding a flight to Mexico, was arrested in 2008 in Aurora for allegedly driving without a license or insurance. She was released after posting bond.

The Immigrations and Customs Enforcement says it doesn't have the resources to detain every suspected illegal immigrant arrested.

So why don't they have the money? Did we spend it all jestsetting nappy all over the globe?

Maybe that 262 million we just spent in afghanastan rebuilding their power plant was more important to the American taxpayer than keeping a killer behind bars in our own backyard?

The Immigrations and Customs Enforcement says it doesn't have the resources to detain every suspected illegal immigrant arrested.

What a load of manure, tell me what is the difference in holding them for a minor infraction and murder cost wise? Why don't we ask the victim's family? I imagine they will tell you to shove your excuse where the sun don't shine!

Accused Driver In Deadly Hit-And-Run In Denver Court Thursday

Norma Vera-Nolasco Was Returned From Phoenix To Denver Overnight
Alan Gathright, 7NEWS Content Producer

POSTED: 9:43 am MST February 10, 2011
UPDATED: 12:51 pm MST February 10, 2011

DENVER -- The accused hit-and-run driver in the death of a nightclub valet was extradited overnight from Phoenix and appeared in Denver court Thursday morning.

Judge James Breese set Norma Vera-Nolasco's bond at $200,000 during the Thursday morning hearing. But because Vera-Nolasco is an illegal immigrant, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed a "No Bond Allowed" hold on her and she can only be released from jail into ICE custody, authorities said.

The mother and fiancee of the slaying victim, Jose Medina, were in the courtroom, sobbing, shaking and holding one another as Vera-Nolasco was led into the hearing, 7NEWS Reporter Amanda Kost reported. Medina's mother wore a T-shirt bearing her son's photo and "Forever Missed."


Vera-Nolasco, clad in a white-and-yellow striped jumpsuit, had disheveled hair and stood with her arms crossed, squinting frequently as a Spanish-language translator spoke to her during the hearing.

Medina was struck by a white GMC pickup as the parking valet held a car door open for a patron outside the Rockstar Lounge on the night of Jan. 22,

Vera-Nolasco, 31, is charged with two counts of vehicular homicide, one involving drunken driving and the other reckless driving, said Denver district attorney spokeswoman Lynn Kimbrough. She's also charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injury and criminal impersonation.

Earlier this week, Kimbrough said, prosecutors additionally charged Vera-Nolasco with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injury for injuries to Renee McFall, the female driver who Medina was helping out of her car when the pickup sideswiped the car, bending back its door. Medina was thrown about 50 feet by the impact, witnesses said.

Vera-Nolasco was arrested Jan. 26 as she attempted to fly from Phoenix to Mexico, police said.

Denver police alerted Phoenix authorities that Vera-Nolasco was boarding a US Airways flight under her sister's name. Phoenix police learned the jetliner was taxiing for takeoff at Sky Harbor International Airport and radioed the pilot to return to the gate, where the woman was arrested.

This wasn’t the first time Vera-Nolasco has been involved in a hit-and-run, according to her arrest affidavit. The affidavit cited court records stating that Vera-Nolasko was involved in an earlier hit-and-run with the same pickup in in Aurora. It gave no further details.

Three other illegal immigrants have been charged with aiding Vera-Nolasco after the hit-and-run by destroying evidence, helping hide the pickup and helping Vera-Nolasco flee, according to court records.

Eliu Montes-Garcia, 28, is accused of being an active participant in covering up the crime, Kimbrough said. He is charged with vehicular homicide involving reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injury and two counts of accessory to a crime, according to court records.

Yolanda Bastida-Nolasco, 43, is charged with two counts of accessory to a crime and committing criminal impersonation for personal gain, court records said.

Guadalupe Bastida, 48, is charged with two counts of being an accessory to a crime.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/26 ... etail.html