Posted on 02/16/2020 8:13:54 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
Two Los Zetas cartel assassins have had their convictions partially vacated in the killing of a federal agent in Mexico nine years ago, according to a new report.
Jose Emanuel “Zafado” Garcia Sota and Jesus Ivan “Loco” Quezada Pina had been convicted of four counts in the murder of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jaime Zapata in San Luis Potosi. A jury in Washington returned the verdict in 2017.
Last month, a DC federal appeals court vacated their convictions on two of those counts — murder and attempted murder of a federal officer, The Monitor newspaper in McAllen, Texas, reported Saturday. The court reached its decision on technical grounds.
Garcia Sota, 39, and Quezada Pina, 32, are serving life sentences in prison on those two counts.
They are also serving life on a third count they asked the court to overturn — use of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence causing death. The court rejected their appeal on that count.
The two men had also been sentenced to 20 years in prison on the fourth count, which criminalizes the killing of certain persons protected under international law. They did not challenge that conviction.
A Los Zetas hit squad killed Zapata while trying to steal vehicles, the paper reported.
Another ICE agent, Victor Avila, was wounded in the attack.
Prosecutors told the jury that investigators recovered 90 shell casings at the scene, according to the paper.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Cmon stupid journalist - you left out the most important part of the article - WHY was the judgement vacated?!
Incorrect sentencing? Did the government probably plant evidence? Did the judge just like illegal immigrants?! (Doubtful if he didn’t vacate the crime with a gun judgement)
Inquiring minds wanna know!
You can read the decision in full. In short, two of the convictions were based on a law which does not explicitly apply to actions outside the United States, something which Congress can easily correct for the future.
The remaining two convictions have a sentencing recommendation of life and 20 years. When they are re-sentenced, they'll likely still be sentenced to life. Kinda one of those ‘well, we tried’ victories and all the lawyers go home with loads of money in their pockets.
Hawaiian judge again?
In other news, Roger Stone gets 10 year sentence for being less than candid with Democrat investigator
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