Posted on 02/12/2007 1:35:42 AM PST by Man50D
The Border Patrol agent with family ties to the Mexican drug smuggler in the case of two jailed border agents may have been involved in back-channel communications with Mexican drug cartels, investigative reports obtained by WND suggest, prompting calls for a special prosecutor to look into the charges.
"We now know that DHS and prosecutor U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton found [smuggler Osbaldo] Aldrete-Davila because the mother-in-law of Border Patrol Agent Rene Sanchez talked with Aldrete-Davila's mother on the phone," Andy Ramirez, chairman of the Friends of the Border Patrol, told WND. "How many other conversations in Mexico did Border Patrol Agent Rene Sanchez have and what was the purpose of those conversations?"
An investigative report filed by Department of Homeland Security Special Agent Christopher Sanchez on July 18, 2005, stated that on July 11, 2005, the DHS Office of Inspector General in El Paso spoke to Agent Rene Sanchez in the Wilcox, Ariz., BP Station, concerning a telephone call Sanchez made to Border Patrol Agent Nolan Blanchett in the Ysleta BP Station in Texas.
At the time of the phone call, Blanchett was temporarily assigned to the Fabens BP Station, the scene of the Feb. 17, 2005, incident with Aldrete-Davila that led to the imprisonment of agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean.
According to the July 18, 2005, DHS memorandum of activity:
(Rene) Sanchez stated that he called Blanchett one or two days after he spoke to DHS OIG on March 5, 2005. Sanchez said he asked Blanchett if he knew anything about a shooting that occurred on February 17, 2005 involving a van loaded with dope in which BP agents shot at the driver. Sanchez said Blanchett told him he knew nothing about the shooting.
A separate March 14, 2005, DHS memorandum of activity filed by Christopher Sanchez, documents that agent Rene Sanchez "queried the Border Patrol Tracking System and found that the Fabens Border Patrol Station seized a load of marijuana on February 17, 2005."
These reports drew the suspicion of Ramirez.
"Why is this Border Patrol Agent Rene Sanchez over in Wilcox, Arizona, so interested in searching out this drug bust information in Fabens, Texas?" Ramirez asked WND. "Sure, we know that Aldrete-Davila and Rene Sanchez grew up together in Mexico. But how much more to the story is there than that?"
WND has learned that prosecutor Sutton's office took steps to prevent Agent Nolan Blanchett from testifying in open court, claiming that Blanchett's testimony would compromise an ongoing investigation.
WND has also learned that Blanchett had received phone calls from BP Agent Rene Sanchez tipping Blanchett off that a sensor hit was about to take place on the border, giving advance warning that a drug-smuggling transport across the border was going to take place. Knowing in advance the when and where of a sensor hit on the border would allow a Border Patrol agent to be in position to interdict the drug shipment and arrest the smuggler.
"How do we know that Agent Rene Sanchez wasn't working with Aldrete-Davila's drug cartel?" Ramirez asked. "Calling Blanchett in advance and letting him know where to interdict a drug shipment might be a good way to eliminate the competition of Aldrete-Davila or whomever he is linked to."
At the Ramos-Compean trial, the defense was not allowed to call Border Patrol Blanchett to the stand for testimony.
"The connection is a little bit too convenient," Ramirez pointed out to WND. "Here we have this Border Patrol Agent Rene Sanchez over in Wilcox, Ariz., and the only way DHS and Johnny Sutton's office find out that Aldrete-Davila was the drug smuggler is because Rene Sanchez tips them off. Then Aldrete-Davila gets immunity and medical care from the prosecutor. Just how closely was Rene Sanchez working with the drug smuggler and what did Rene Sanchez stand to gain when Aldrete-Davila got immunity?"
WND has previously reported Aldrete-Davila's cell phone was found in the abandoned vehicle. This directly contradicts prosecutor Sutton's repeated claim that there was no evidence at the scene, which would have permitted law-enforcement investigators to identify Aldrete-Davila as the perpetrator.
"Where is Aldrete-Davila's telephone?" Ramirez asked WND. "I wonder if Rene Sanchez's phone number was one of the numbers in that phone's memory, or maybe others of higher ranks inside U.S. government agencies or bodies. But then again, what if this guy is a runner for the Tucson Mafia and I am not referring to people of European ancestry either. Why is it that even today nobody knows what network of people Aldrete-Davila called? Why isn't Johnny Sutton going after the drug dealer's network? He gave Davila immunity, not the people Davila liked to call."
WND has obtained the transcripts from the Ramos-Compean trial for the testimony given by Border Patrol Agent Arturo Vasquez on Feb. 24, 2006, and by Agent Oscar Juarez on Feb. 23 and 24, 2006. Both agents gave testimony about the drug dealer's cell phone they found on the scene on Feb. 17, 2005.
Vasquez testified he found the phone in the front seat of the abandoned drug smuggler's Ford Econoline van, with a charging device plugged into the cigarette lighter.
In cross-examination by defense, Vasquez testified about the cell phone as follows:
Q: While you're looking at the phone, you're scrolling through whatever information you can find? A: Yes.
Q: Did you notice whether or not any of the calls are recent?
A: I didn't have the chance to find what I was looking for. I didn't have enough time to get into some of the directory, the actual directory where you can get that information from. Because, while we were going that (Supervisor) Agent (Jonathan) Richards and Lance (Mendrano) got to the area and I had to hand the phone over to Agent Mendrano.
Q: I thought your testimony, though, was tat was, pretty much, all you do is check out the phone.
A: Yes, but I didn't get to the part where I could actually see times and all that.
At this point, prosecutor Debra Kanof interrupted and objected that the testimony was not relevant to the guilt or innocence of Ramos and Compean. Judge Kathleen Cardone agreed, commenting, "It's late on a Friday ... ."
Judge Cardone ruled out cross-examination about the cell phone, stating: "Mr. Aldrete-Davila is not on trial. And everybody knows he's got a phone and everybody knows he was transporting the drugs, but, unless we're getting somewhere that's got to do with this case, I'm concerned we're going of ... ." At that point, Judge Cardone was interrupted once again by Debra Kanof.
On page 186 of his testimony, Agent Juarez corroborated Agent Vasquez's testimony that the drug smuggler's cell phone was found in the abandoned van containing 743 pounds of marijuana.
WND is unable to determine who currently has possession of the cell phone or if any law-enforcement officers made any attempt to identify the owner or the identify of the names in the incoming and outgoing call memory, or the service provider records of the same.
As far as WND can determine, no law-enforcement agency made any attempt to identify Aldrete-Davila's drug network or associates from the recovered cell phone, or if agents were able to determine if the phone records indicate any calls to or received from Border Patrol agents or others connected with U.S. agencies or law enforcement.
As WND previously reported, Agent Vasquez was fired by the Border Patrol and Agent Juarez resigned in anticipation of being fired.
Smuggler PING!
Thanks for posting this. BTTT!
Gosh, I've been following this story and it blows my mind. I believe in a previous article I read that Blanchard was also reassigned because he was suspicious of Sanchez phone calls. The official response for his removal from the area was that his assignment was a temporary one, unbeknownst to him.
One would think the major focus of this whole case would be the drug smuggling. I am sure finding a cell phone would be a huge find in tracking the network involved in the smuggling. It is absolutely sickening.
Another thing that really bothers me about this case is the jury. The prosecution presented the case that the agents shot an unarmed man and tried to cover it up. Please, how can ANYBODY, with a working brain, even think that someone carrying that amount of dope WOULD NOT BE ARMED??????
How's that investigation going, Johnny??? Is it getting anywhere??? or was there ever one to begin with??? It's high time for Johnny to come clean.
As far as I know there has been no transcript.
Like I said before, the jury was asked to believe that the smuggler was unarmed. Was this based on the testimony of the goverment officials who lied? The officials said that Compean and Ramos specifically said they were out to "shoot Mexicans" and that they knew he was "unarmed". Both of these statements have been proven false. That alone should be cause for a mistrial and these men should be released pending a new trial. Personally, I would like to see a whole new trial where ALL EVIDENCE AND TESTIMONY is allowed so that these men can be fully exhonerated, pardoning isn't enough in my opinion.
WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD BELIEVE A DRUG SMUGGLER CARRYING 748 POUNDS OF POT WOULD BE UNARMED!!!!!!! PERSONALLY I AM SURPRISED HE DIDN'T HAVE AN ASSAULT RIFLE! I am SPECULATING HERE, but at this point, it would not surprise me in the least that there were fire arms in that van and that they were taken to make them look more guilty.
|
Filed |
Doc # |
Description |
|
03/14/2006 |
151 |
Transcript filed as to Ignacio Ramos, Jose Alonso Compean for dates of 2/15/06 (Proceedings Transcribed: Sealed) (Court Reporter: David Perez) (dl1) (Entered: 03/15/2006) |
|
06/01/2006 |
160 |
TRANSCRIPT of Proceedings as to Jose Alonso Compean, Ignacio Ramos held on 2/27/06 Proceedings Transcribed: testimony of David Jacquez. Court Reporter: David Perez. NOTE: Transcript document is not available online. (dl1, ) (Entered: 06/02/2006) |
|
06/01/2006 |
161 |
TRANSCRIPT of Proceedings as to Jose Alonso Compean, Ignacio Ramos held on 2/23-24/06 Proceedings Transcribed: testimony of Oscar Juarez. Court Reporter: David Perez. NOTE: Transcript document is not available online. (dl1, ) (Entered: 06/02/2006) |
|
06/01/2006 |
162 |
TRANSCRIPT of Proceedings as to Jose Alonso Compean, Ignacio Ramos held on 2/24/06 Proceedings Transcribed: testimony of Arturo Vasquez. Court Reporter: David Perez. NOTE: Transcript document is not available online. (dl1, ) (Entered: 06/02/2006) |
|
09/07/2006 |
172 |
TRANSCRIPT of Proceedings as to Jose Alonso Compean, Ignacio Ramos held on 2/21/06 Proceedings Transcribed: Opening Statments. Court Reporter: David Perez. NOTE: Transcript document is not available online. (dl1, ) (Entered: 09/08/2006) |
|
09/07/2006 |
173 |
TRANSCRIPT of Proceedings as to Jose Alonso Compean, Ignacio Ramos held on 2/21/06 Proceedings Transcribed: Closing Statements. Court Reporter: David Perez. NOTE: Transcript document is not available online. (dl1, ) (Entered: 09/08/2006) |
|
10/18/2006 |
190 |
TRANSCRIPT of Proceedings as to Jose Alonso Compean, Ignacio Ramos held on 3/30/05 Proceedings Transcribed: Preliminary Hearing. Court Reporter: Leroy Swanson. NOTE: Transcript document is not available online. (dl1, ) (Entered: 10/20/2006) |
|
10/26/2006 |
204 |
TRANSCRIPT of Proceedings as to Ignacio Ramos held on 5/12/06 Proceedings Transcribed: MOTION HEARING. Court Reporter: Reporters Ink. NOTE: Transcript document is not available online. (dl1, ) (Entered: 10/27/2006) |
|
10/26/2006 |
205 |
TRANSCRIPT of Proceedings as to Ignacio Ramos held on 4/22/06 Proceedings Transcribed: Arraignment. Court Reporter: Reporters Ink. NOTE: Transcript document is not available online. (dl1, ) (Entered: 10/27/2006) |
|
10/26/2006 |
206 |
TRANSCRIPT of Proceedings as to Jose Alonso Compean, Ignacio Ramos held on 3/24/05 Proceedings Transcribed: Bond Hearing. Court Reporter: Reporters Ink. NOTE: Transcript document is not available online. (dl1, ) (Entered: 10/27/2006) |
|
10/26/2006 |
207 |
TRANSCRIPT of Proceedings as to Jose Alonso Compean, Ignacio Ramos held on 3/21/05 Proceedings Transcribed: Initial Appearance. Court Reporter: Reporters Ink. NOTE: Transcript document is not available online. (dl1, ) (Entered: 10/27/2006) |
I'm beginning to think that Sutton jumped on the prosecution of the BP agents in order to draw attention AWAY from the drug smuggling. Intentionally.
Someone help me out here. How did Corsi get his hands on the trial transcript?
If he's a mule, I can see it.
Ping
Another article with no new facts, just speculation about stuff WND is incapable of finding out on their own. "We know he had a cell phone, we have no idea what was in it or what has been done with it, so we'll speculate that Rene was in league with drug dealers and his phone number is in the phone"!!!
Blanchett apparently has no information whatsoever about the crimes. The Cell Phone had nothing to do with the crime. That's why they aren't germaine to the trial.
Rene it seems (if anything in WND is to be believed) had sources that allowed us to stop a lot of drugs from coming into our country. We are supposed to lionise the two BP agents because they shot a drug dealer, and therefore helped stop a single shipment.
But we are supposed to hate Rene Sanchez who apparently has been able to stop multiple drug shipments without actually shooting anybody for no reason.
Oh, probably not anymore. WND has pretty much assured that, whatever contacts Rene might have had which gave us this valuable information, we don't have them anymore.
I'm beginning to see a reason why stuff might be under seal -- Sanchez/Sanchez apparently were key players in controlling the drug trafficking over our border, and the focus on their efforts has probably ruined that for us.
Any pro-pardon folks want to speculate on how WND got leaked portions of the transcript if the transcript is under control of the evil empire, rather than pro-pardon folks who might want to hold it up because it's bad for the agents?
Oh yes, the "Bush held the girl's Mexican Flag while he hugged her, so the BP agents must be innocent" argument.
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