The El Paso Times covered it extensively, writing over 20 articles.
Here is the DOJ's summary of their "success."
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/2006/Compean.con.pdf
U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Western District of Texas
Johnny Sutton, U.S. Attorney
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 8, 2006
The U.S. Department of Justice's U.S. Attorney's office for the Western District of Texas issued the following press release:
United States Attorney Johnny Sutton announced that a federal jury in El Paso this afternoon convicted two U.S. Border Patrol agents on charges associated with a February 2005 shooting incident. The jury convicted Ignacio Ramos (a.k.a. "Nacho") and Jose Alonso Compean with assault with serious bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon, discharge of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence and a civil rights charge. Compean and Ramos were also convicted of four counts and two counts, respectively, of obstruction of justice. The jury acquitted both defendants of assault with intent to commit murder.
"Everyday the brave men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol put their lives on the line to protect us. We thank them for their sacrifice and trust them with the burden of enforcing the law. Agents Compean and Ramos abused that trust through violence and cover-up. The fact that they are now convicted and will soon be punished for their crimes is a perfect example of why America stands out as a country where no one is above the law," stated United States Attorney Johnny Sutton.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that on February 17, 2005, the defendants attempted to apprehend a Mexican National, who was transporting a load of marijuana, while attempting to flee back into Mexico near Fabens, Texas. During the incident, Compean fired approximately 14 rounds from his service pistol; Ramos fired one round from his service pistol striking the victim. Ballistics testing confirmed that the bullet which struck the victim was from Ramos' service weapon. In addition, jurors found that the defendants intentionally failed to report the shooting incident to supervisors, concealed evidence and obstructed the investigation. Finally, jurors convicted Compean of collecting and disposing the spent shell casings expelled from the defendants' firearms in an effort to prevent them from being used in official proceedings.
U.S. Attorney Sutton commended the Office of Inspector General - Department of Homeland Security as well as the United States Border Patrol for their cooperation and assistance with this investigation.
Richard L. Skinner, Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security stated, "The conviction in this case is a positive reflection of the United States Border Patrol's attempt to guard our nation's borders, while maintaining a high degree of integrity and understanding the necessity of strictly adhering to the laws of the United States. It is a tribute to the Border Patrol that they sought the legal process by assisting special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General, in bringing to justice two of their own, who independently decided to take the law into their own hands. This verdict reaffirms that no one is above the law."
Ramos and Compean each face up to life in federal prison. Sentencing is scheduled for 9:00am on June 8, 2006, before United States District Judge Kathleen Cardone. Assistant United States Attorneys Debra P. Kanof and Jose Luis Gonzalez are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. Contact: Shana Jones, 210/384-7440.
Except, of course, for the drug smuggling Mexican national, every other illegal alien in this country, the employers who hire them, etc., ad nauseum.
wow.
I wish that the government had pursued Lon Horiucchi with the same zeal. Hell, I wish that they had even thought of prosecuting him.
Thank you for posting that, I saw articles in the EPT about this incident months ago but they were pretty schetchy- didn't make much sense to me. This incident still doesn't make sense to me. There were other BP in the area and or at the scene so not sure why this happened the way it is told. I would think the shooting was either right or wrong when it happened whether or not they thought the man was hit. It seems like this was no big deal when it happened and blew up later. Strange.
I don't think this was ever posted in the MSM but am not surprised.
Most outrageous thing I've seen or read all this year.