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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

Posted on 10/19/2006 3:37:27 PM PDT by no dems

Edited on 10/19/2006 4:07:46 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]

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.


TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: agents; aliens; bds; border; borderagents; bordersecurity; davila; illegalaliens; immigrantlist; invasionusa; mexico
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To: BeHoldAPaleHorse
"It does not matter whether or not they believed they hit the guy--they were supposed to make a complete report of ANY weapon discharge, let alone an entire magazine's worth. They didn't do so."

Which sounds more on the level of an administrative action, not a major federal investigation warranting the granting of IMMUNITY to an illegal alien drug smuggler and a decade behind bars. That the US Attorney decided this warranted that (coupled with his despicable "he just wanted to go home" comments) is just disgusting.

"Some free advice: do NOT do that if you are ever involved in a self-defense shooting. "

If the guy runs back across the border after the incident, what's to report? Any "self-defense" shooting reported is going to have a dead or wounded bad guy at the scene.

" The investigation team never showed up--because Ramos and Compean never reported the shooting in the first place"

At that point, any forensics team would have found THEIR brass, but not much else. The bad guy having escaped back to Mexico.

"The Border Patrol reloading spent pistol brass? ANY police department reloading spent pistol brass? Nope. Uh-uh. Maybe the SWAT snipers save their cases for the armorer to hand-load, but even that's doubtful. "

They may have done it themselves. It's not unheard of.

"Which story should I believe?"

I wouldn't believe the smugglers story, but that's me.
761 posted on 10/20/2006 11:09:43 PM PDT by EnochPowellWasRight
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To: EnochPowellWasRight
Any "self-defense" shooting reported is going to have a dead or wounded bad guy at the scene.

Well, that's interesting, because Ramos and Compean claimed to be acting in self-defense--but, by your criteria, they could not have been.

As to which story to believe, maybe I need to make this clearer:

Which version of Ramos and Compean's story should I believe? Should I believe they told the truth the first time out, where nothing supposedly happened--no struggle, no gun--with the teensy-weensy exception of neither Ramos or Compean mentioning that Ramos capped off an entire magazine for no discernable reason? Or should I believe that they lied the first time and told the truth the second time, which had them in a life-and-death shootout with an armed drug smuggler? If they lied the first time, why should I believe them the second time?

762 posted on 10/20/2006 11:16:57 PM PDT by BeHoldAPaleHorse ( ~()):~)>)
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To: BeHoldAPaleHorse
"Well, that's interesting, because Ramos and Compean claimed to be acting in self-defense--but, by your criteria, they could not have been. "

They didn't realize they'd hit the guy, apparently. Any CIVIL self-defense shooting isn't going to be at range while the perp is attempting to escape, as most non-LEOs aren't trying to *apprehend* the bad guy, but not be killed by him. THAT is a bit of free advice if you are ever in a self-defense shooting. Shoot to STOP. Don't chase.

"As to which story to believe, maybe I need to make this clearer:"

I think you should be asking why the prosecutor in the US Attorney's office (said US Attorney appointed by Bush) attacked these officers in court for "going against their own people" - ie "Hispanics". Why was the illegal alien apparently treated by a US military surgeon?!? Why is their a "do not pursue" policy on the border? Why did this Sutton lawyer argue that the illegal alien drug smuggler had 4th Amendment rights and that these agents had violated them?

What's REALLY going on on our southern border?
763 posted on 10/20/2006 11:32:24 PM PDT by EnochPowellWasRight
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To: BeHoldAPaleHorse

What law enforcement agency did you used to work for?


764 posted on 10/21/2006 1:07:24 AM PDT by Ajnin (I)
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To: PRND21

You have no home page. How interesting.


765 posted on 10/21/2006 1:20:42 AM PDT by Ajnin (I)
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To: AnnaZ; COEXERJ145
Do you have anything to say about the actual subject of this thread, or are you merely here to deride the posters?

The latter. You've responded to his final post on the thread.

He's one of these self-appointed majority whip guys who demand a united front of party loyalty on FR. Apparently, he's OK with Border Patrol officers who take action against an admitted drug smuggler serving roughly five times what Lynne Stewart will after she was found guilty of helping an Islamofascist terrorist run his operation from prison.

RIGHT???

766 posted on 10/21/2006 1:53:47 AM PDT by L.N. Smithee (Normal people would kill to save their kids. Muslim fascists raise their kids to die killing others.)
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To: NewRomeTacitus; PRND21

Well, apparently some of us aren't too conservative. It seems there are a few that want to give criminals a free pass. They want to give a slap on the wrist to Border Patrol Agents proven to be corrupt in a fair trial and yet give a max sentence to Agents convicted in a case with reasonable doubt. What are we to conclude from this?


767 posted on 10/21/2006 1:59:04 AM PDT by Ajnin (I)
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To: onyx
Lou Dobbs is a Marxist democrat.

This thread is about an injustice against to American law enforcment officers and you blabber about Dobbs. Shows where your loyalties are - to the OBL.

768 posted on 10/21/2006 4:22:50 AM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote.)
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To: COEXERJ145
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
769 posted on 10/21/2006 4:47:29 AM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote.)
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To: eleni121

770 posted on 10/21/2006 5:10:15 AM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote.)
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To: EnochPowellWasRight

Didn't you know that it is mandatory to give an American Citizen 10 years behind bars. Different strokes for different folks.


771 posted on 10/21/2006 5:49:23 AM PDT by texastoo ("trash the treaties")
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To: L.N. Smithee
You're not the only one who has compared this sentencing to Lynne Stewart's. It does illustrate the lopsidedness of the sentence.

As for COEXER...whatever's posts, one's position on this sentencing does not necessarily indicate one's political philosophy, though, truth be told, I would have appreciated more of the truth of the details in the original postings on this case, i.e. the obstruction issue.

My biggest upset in this is that the drug smuggler not only served no time, but profited mightily from it.

And Stewart should have been charged with treason.

772 posted on 10/21/2006 6:10:47 AM PDT by AnnaZ (I think so, Brain, but if we give peas a chance, won't the lima beans feel left out?)
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To: EnochPowellWasRight

IMHO, our entire legal system and culture has become so mired in lower priority law and socialism that we've overlooked the obvious.

A man is stopped in the commission of a major felony. He then attempts to escape and attacks the law enforcement officer.

The most pressing and obvious issue at that time is to defend the lives and safety of the officers while subdueing the criminal.

Tactically, the best defense is a good offense. If the criminal gets away, he is very likely to return with even greater force next time to lessen his risk of being thwarted in his efforts, possibly even laying an ambush for the law enforcement officers who remain exposed to the public.

IMHO, one might suggest changes in method or improvements to their efficiencies, but nothing in their behavior, intent or actions as so far reported warrants higher authority to find no fault in the criminal and excessively attack law enforcement.

Perhaps the best solution is to advertise throughout Mexico, how much undefended wealth is at the judge's residence and let human nature run its course.


773 posted on 10/21/2006 7:03:03 AM PDT by Cvengr
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To: texastoo

"Didn't you know that it is mandatory to give an American Citizen 10 years behind bars. Different strokes for different folks."

At a press conference, "Sutton stated that the United States of American is a country where it [the law] applies to citizens."

Apparently, ONLY citizens. Illegal aliens are above that.


774 posted on 10/21/2006 8:27:39 AM PDT by EnochPowellWasRight
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To: Cvengr

"IMHO, our entire legal system and culture has become so mired in lower priority law and socialism that we've overlooked the obvious. "

It's "mired" in attacking citizens and protecting illegal aliens. This is hardly the first time. At least one rancher lost his ranch to illegal aliens....


775 posted on 10/21/2006 8:28:54 AM PDT by EnochPowellWasRight
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To: no dems
Is the US Attorney a Clintonista holdover?
776 posted on 10/21/2006 9:55:07 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative ("An empty limousine pulled up and Hillary Clinton got out")
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To: Gay State Conservative

The judge was also a Bush Appointee.

Johnny Sutton, US Attorney responsible for this.

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/us_attorney/index.html

[snip] Mr. Sutton also serves as the chairman of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC) which plays a significant role in determining policies and programs of the Department and in carrying out the national goals set by the President and the Attorney General.

The AGAC consists of 17 members appointed by the Attorney General and represents different judicial circuits, various-sized offices, and expertise. Mr. Sutton also serves on the Border and Immigration Law Enforcement Subcommittee of the AGAC.

US Attorney Johnny SuttonPrior to becoming United States Attorney, Mr. Sutton served as an Associate Deputy Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., and as a Policy Coordinator for the Bush-Cheney Transition Team assigned to the Department of Justice.

Mr. Sutton served as the Criminal Justice Policy Director for then-Governor George W. Bush from 1995-2000, advising the Governor on all criminal justice issues, with specific oversight in the areas of criminal law, prison capacity and management, parole operations and legislative initiatives. Prior to his service in the Governor’s office, Mr. Sutton worked as a criminal trial prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney’s Office (Houston, Texas) for eight years. As a prosecutor, he was lead trial counsel in over sixty felony cases, including numerous capital murder, aggravated robbery, and sexual assault cases. He is fluent in Spanish, having appeared as a television commentator for the Spanish language network Univision during the Selena homicide trial.


777 posted on 10/21/2006 11:03:55 AM PDT by WatchingInAmazement ("Nothing is more expensive than cheap labor," prof. Vernon Briggs, labor economist Cornell Un.)
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To: AnnaZ

Also, apparently, a Mexican national was given Fourth Amendment rights.

???


778 posted on 10/21/2006 11:25:35 AM PDT by La Enchiladita (God bless America, land that I love. NEVER FORGET ... Some Gave All ...)
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To: L.N. Smithee; texastoo
And the guy (20 yrs. old, not a minor) who created the NFL stadium hoax -- a false terrorist threat that sent Homeland Security into pandemonium -- faces only "up to five years" in prison.

In addition, a judge has released him without bail. His only punishment for now is that he is "prohibited" from using the internet.

"These types of hoaxes scare innocent people, cost business resources and waste valuable homeland security resources. We cannot tolerate this Internet version of yelling 'fire' in a crowded theater in the post-9/11 era," said U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie in Newark, N.J., where Brahm was charged in a sealed complaint filed Thursday.

What do you bet he serves less than a year, if that?

779 posted on 10/21/2006 11:27:31 AM PDT by La Enchiladita (God bless America, land that I love. NEVER FORGET ... Some Gave All ...)
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To: Desron13

I like your plan.

Wonder why it hasn't been implemented.

Hmmmm....


780 posted on 10/21/2006 11:29:50 AM PDT by La Enchiladita (God bless America, land that I love. NEVER FORGET ... Some Gave All ...)
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