BREAKING NEWS: Two Border Patrol Agents who wounded a drug smuggler given 11 and 12 years prison.

Lou Dobbs / CNN | 10-19-06 | no dems

[no dems]

Ex-border agents sentenced for shooting smuggler
AP

EL PASO, Texas -- Two former U.S. Border Patrol agents were each sentenced Thursday to more than a decade in federal prison for shooting a Mexican drug smuggler and then trying to cover it up.

Ignacio Ramos was sentenced to 11 years and one day, and Jose Alonso Compean was sentenced to 12 years. Both were fired after their convictions on several charges including assault with a deadly weapon, obstruction of justice, and a civil rights violation.

The men, neither of whom spoke in court, will be allowed to turn themselves in Jan. 17.

The agents have proclaimed their innocence in the Feb. 17, 2005, shooting of admitted drug smuggler Osvlado Aldrete Davila.

Aldrete was shot in the buttocks as he fled across the Rio Grande into Mexico after a confrontation with Ramos and Compean. The agents said they shot in self defense, but prosecutors charged that they had no reason to shoot at the fleeing man, who later claimed he was unarmed.

Since their convictions, support for the agents has swelled. Several prominent law makers, including U.S. Rep. James Sensenbrenner, the Wisconsin Republican who chairs the House judiciary committee, have even called for a Congressional investigation into the agents' prosecutions.

The union representing most rank and file Border Patrol agents established a legal defense fund. And civilian border watch groups have asked the U.S. Attorney General's office to review the case and throw out the jury's guilty verdicts.

[WatchingInAmazement]

It would be interesting to find out why Johnny Sutton turned all the policies of the border patrol upside down and gave imunity to a CRIMINAL just to prosecute and jail two public servants, one who had been nominated as border patrolman of the year.

[Borax Queen]

The wrong people were sentenced - it should have been more than a few politicians going to prison for not upholding their oath of office.

[eleni121]

these agents deserved anything more than disiplinary action as provided by border patrol guidlines.

---

Are you saying that guidelines provide for DA when agents shoot and do not report?

Clarify please.

As for the sentencing guidelines - bizarre? Absolutely!!! Change them then.

[texastoo]

Next time you need help, may I suggest you get it from a drug smuggler?

[PRND21]

Neither is defending a drug smuggler.

Nice tactics, Mr. BP Agent.
Why are you no longer floating the story that the drug smuggler shot himself?

You and your Union are disgusting.

[napscoordinator]

This is a shame. Nothing will be done though.

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

Next time you need help, may I suggest you get it from a drug smuggler?

You're free to make any suggestion you wish, no matter how foolish it may be.

The problem wasn't the shooting. It was the cover-up.

[texastoo]

The problem wasn't the shooting. It was the cover-up.

So if it is proven that D. Hassert knew about Mark Foley and underaged boys, do you think he will get 10 years in prison?

The problem is injustice.

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

The problem is injustice.

And exempting the police from the laws they are sworn to enforce guarantees injustice.

[jmc813]

I noticed that you completely ignored the threads I pinged you to regarding the jurors' comments. Typical.

[PRND21]

I noticed that you completely ignored the threads I pinged you to regarding the jurors' comments. Typical.

Your "pings"are typically nonsense.

[Spirochete]

but prosecutors charged that they had no reason to shoot at the fleeing man, who later claimed he was unarmed

Vicki Weaver was unarmed, too. 15 years later, her assassin still walks free.

[La Enchiladita]

Mr. Sutton served as the Criminal Justice Policy Director for then-Governor George W. Bush from 1995-2000,

It's the loyalty thing, y'know.

[Smartass]

Bio:  

Cardone, Kathleen

Born 1953 in Medina, NY

Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U. S. District Court, Western District of Texas
Nominated by George W. Bush on May 1, 2003, to a new seat created by 116 Stat. 1758; Confirmed by the Senate on July 28, 2003, and received commission on July 29, 2003.

Education:
State University of New York at Binghamton, B.A., 1976

St. Marys School of Law, J.D., 1979

Professional Career:
Briefing attorney, Hon. Philip A. Schraub, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, 1979-1980
Private practice, Texas, 1980-1990
Judge, Municipal Court for the City of El Paso, Texas, 1983-1990
Associate judge, Family Law Court of Texas, 1990-1995
Judge, 383rd Judicial District Court of Texas, 1995-1996
Attorney/mediator, Texas Arbitration Mediation Services, 1997-1999
Instructor (part-time), El Paso Community College, 1997-2003
Judge, 388th Judicial District Court of Texas, 1999-2000
Mediator, Texas Arbitration Mediation Services, 2001-2003
Visiting judge, State of Texas, 2001-2003

Race or Ethnicity: White

Gender: Female

[Kimberly GG]

Thanks for the ping....


We must never forget which side of the illegal immigration/amnesty/border issues our President and D.C. leadership are on.

[PRND21]

We must never forget which side of the illegal immigration/amnesty/border issues our President and D.C. leadership are on.

We must also never forget what a grandstanding weasel Tancredo has become.
The agents were rightfully convicted and Tancredo's defense of them is Jessesque.

[EternalVigilance]

Johnny Sutton, US Attorney responsible for this.

Maybe he's the offspring of bank robber Eddie Sutton, who when famously asked, "Why do you rob banks?" said, "Because that's where the money is!"

"Johnny Sutton, why do you prosecute public servants for doing their job?"

"Because that's where the career advancement is!"

[Kimberly GG]

Tancredo is not a threat to the sovereignty and security of our country. Bush is. The fact that you feel threatened by it being pointed out, is YOUR problem.

[PRND21]

Tancredo is not a threat to the sovereignty and security of our country. Bush is.

Phhhfffttt.

[JCEccles]

Why do you support the scum-sucking drug smuggler in this abominations of a case? You have much wrath for these two men trying to do a difficult job, but nothing but sympathy for the drug mule.

Twisted.