Transcripts of Trial - Border Agents Compean and Ramos

DOJ - U.S. Attorney's Office (Johnny Sutton) ^ | February 13, 2007

[calcowgirl]

The complete (I think) transcript was filed with the Court on Friday and entered in the Court record yesterday. The DOJ is hosting the transcripts on their website in a series of 18 PDF Files. They range in size from 5 pages to over 300 pages, covering pretrial matters, sentencing, as well as testimony.

The transcripts are linked at the site above, as well as most of the press releases issued by the U.S. Attorney office on this matter.

I am setting up this thread (in chat) as a place for us junkies can comment on the testimony and to post any revelations anyone might find. Have at it!!!!

VOLUME I: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%201.pdf

VOLUME II: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%202.pdf

VOLUME III: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%203.pdf

VOLUME IV: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%204.pdf

VOLUME V: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%205.pdf

VOLUME VI: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%206.pdf

VOLUME VII: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%207.pdf

VOLUME VIII: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%208.pdf

VOLUME IX: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%209.pdf

VOLUME X: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%2010.pdf

VOLUME XI: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%2011.pdf

VOLUME XII: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%2012.pdf

VOLUME XIII: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%2013.pdf

VOLUME XIV: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%2014.pdf

VOLUME XV: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%2015.pdf

VOLUME XVI: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%2016.pdf

VOLUME XVII: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%2017.pdf

VOLUME XVIII: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/Compean-Ramos/Volume%2018.pdf
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[Arizona Carolyn]

Everyone is getting testy nowdays....

[FOXFANVOX]

I do not believe that people who do not have exposure to government regulations and bureaucracy appreciate the effect that they have on people. From my exposure to the military and the FAA, I know that the rules are not only complex, but numerous. That makes them hard to remember.

The FAA knows that the aviation system would become bogged down if airlines strictly observed the rules. But, while they benignly look the other way as all goes well, the gov't will be first to accuse you of violating the appropriate regulations if something goes wrong.

The corollary to that is the paperwork can be time consuming and laborious. Anyone who thought that nothing bad had happened that day in Texas would have opted out of paperwork. I suspect the supervisor knew shots were fired and didn't want to write it up. I am confident the Agents that shot didn't want to write it up.

[calcowgirl]

Even if they hire them, and even if they want to protect the border, they may be given another mission.

Here they are, being dispatched to Mexico to train Mexican officers in emergency medical services
http://www.elpasotimes.com/search/ci_5246769

[calcowgirl]

Correction: the many lies told to by OAD

[erton1]

I can think of only one federal criminal case in the last 25 years that has had a change of venue. It was for murder of a sitting U.S. District Judge. It is a very high threshold to meet to have a change of venue granted.

[Sue Bob]

I look at this as a similar situation to "tainted claims" cases prosecutors bring under the the False Claims Act. They claim that the act has been violated because of some other violation--such as a violation of licensing regulations. The provider makes claims for reimbursement--while out of compliance with regulations--ergo--they've made a false claim for the government's money because they have represented that they are in compliance by continuing business.

I think the prosecutor was throwing in every possible administrative violation to bootstrap her case that the agent's actions out there were criminal. Overall, she was trying to convince the jury that they were wrong to even pursue this guy at all. Thus, if they were wrong to pursue him, and willing to break the rules to do so, they violated his rights and they were lying about whether or not the shoot was ok.

That's what I think.

[FOXFANVOX]

A non-lawyers view: the prosecution was trying to show that the Agents were disregarding guidelines. In other words, exceeding the speed limit without contacting a supervisor [ludicrous], turning lights on then off as if to bait OAD [a guess], Ramos proceeding thru a stop sign while a younger Agent came to a full stop! They were laying the groundwork for rogue cops.

The point of the two differing radios I think is that the Agents were talking on the local radios that were not recorded, thus laying the groundwork for a conspiracy.

Lastly, Free Republic will be great entertainment if Rudy gets the nomination. I have steered clear on the Threads so far. But, some will view it as if Hillary was nominated.

8)

[Arizona Carolyn]

You just gave yet another reason why I would never want to join the border patrol.. They are not particularly popular in any of the border town these days, for obvious reasons. Would be like our soldiers being tried in Baghdad for accidentally shooting at an Iraqi with an Iraqi jury.

[Arizona Carolyn]

"The medical assistance provided during the incident demonstrates the bilateral intent of U.S.-based agencies to provide advanced medical training and maintain dialogue with counterparts in Mexico that serves the best interests of both nations," Mosier said

How wonderful we are training and paying our agents to do work in and for MExico.

[FOXFANVOX]

What I found interesting was that Kanof in, I think, her summary or somewhere, suggested several things the two Agents could have done to make their story seem plausible and not criminal. I thought it strange that she would state that because if I were on the jury my natural thinking would be, well if it would have been that easy to cover it up and make it into a "good" shoot, then why didn't they do it?!

[calcowgirl]

Thanks! I do understand how, and why, the Prosecution tried to paint it. It just seems irrelevant. I'm sure they could have offered some string to try to tie it to the incident, but it just proves to me how out-of-control Kanof and her cohorts were. This isn't "in search of justice."

On another note, there is an interesting discussion at the end of Volume 10 (ultimately labeled "Bill Ramos") having to do with a prior shooting at Fabens in December 2004. The incident involved a drug seizure, rock throwing (assault) and discharge of firearms (from both of the two agents). Most interesting to me was the I-44 form they completed for the seizure, since that is the same form type Compean filled out and some alleged withheld information. In the December case, just 2 months earlier, it also made no mention of an assault or discharge.

[Sue Bob]

I thought the exact same thing. She went so far as to say that had they done these things, the shoot would have been good.

Neither Ramos nor Compean seem to have the kind of intelligence it takes to conspire--or to fend off sneaky lawyer tactics. I'm not saying that they are unintelligent. Their brand of intelligence is suited to their employment--and would certainly exceed mine in that setting.

[calcowgirl]

...while a younger Agent came to a full stop!

I missed that one! LOL. why don't I believe him? ;-)

Free Republic will be great entertainment if Rudy gets the nomination.

LOL. I'll reserve comment for those "other threads." I am enjoying the civility and level of discourse here.

[calcowgirl]

Just warms your heart, don't it? /s

[FOXFANVOX]

There is an adage in aviation:

If the pilot mistakes a mistake, the pilot dies.

If the FAA controller makes a mistake, the pilot dies.

No offense, but the same could be said of lawyers. 8)

[erton1]

I live in San Antonio. The BP has a presence here, not as large as say Laredo, but I see a BP vehicle several times a week. I do not perceive a negative public attitude to them. I don't think they would receive a hostile jury here.

[Sue Bob]

Is the pilot the client?

[FOXFANVOX]

Yes. The client can goof and he is in jail.

The lawyer can goof and the client is in jail!

[FOXFANVOX]

I was back into Vol 7 checking about immunity when the one of the defense lawyers said [p 35] that the gov't was aware of OAD's October drug smuggling but did not have enough evidence to arrest him which the defense lawyer described as ridiculous. It was the basis for the gov't saying that they did not extend immunity to OAD to the second offense because he was not "arrested". Think those cops got a call from a Sutton protege?

Also, Kanof goofed a bit. She was trying to describe OAD's erratic driving because of the age of the van, etc, etc. Defense lept on that as an opening to introduce the erratic driving may well have been caused by the 743 lbs. of illegal drugs the van was carrying.

Protector has done everything to portray OAD as an innocent Mexican truck driver who lost his way. Yeah, right.

Further, first load, OAD said he did not know where the US stash house was or who hired him. Seems on the second load he had no difficulty finding the US stash house on his own.

Just been advised, supper awaits.

Adios.

[calcowgirl]

Protector has done everything to portray OAD as an innocent Mexican truck driver who lost his way.

That's what bugs me most about this whole thing. The characterization is just flat-out dishonest!