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Cop called 'double agent'in Ramos-Compean case The father-in-law of imprisoned Border Patrol Agent Ignacio Ramos is calling for an investigation of Border Patrol Agent Rene Sanchez – a longtime friend of the Mexican drug smuggler granted immunity to testify against Ramos and incarcerated fellow agent Jose Compean – as a possible "double agent." "I believe Rene Sanchez acted as a 'double agent' in the Ramos-Compean case," Joe Loya, father of Ramos's wife Monica, told WND. "He was doing everything he could to protect his life-long friend, Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila, but at the same time he was working with Johnny Sutton to make sure Ramos and Compean were convicted." Loya further charged that he had reason to believe "Rene Sanchez's actions make it look like he could have been in the drug business with Aldrete-Davila all along. The Department of Homeland Security never investigated, and from the beginning of this case Johnny Sutton was out to prosecute the Border Patrol, not the drug smugglers." As WND has previously reported, Sanchez and Aldrete-Davila grew up together in Mexico, prompting some observers – including Friends of the Border Patrol chairman Andy Ramirez – to question the propriety of a family friend of Aldrete-Davila playing such a major role in reporting the Ramos-Compean incident involving the drug smuggler. Yet later, during the trial, Aldrete-Davila testified that Rene Sanchez suggested he should get immunity to testify against Ramos and Compean, get medical attention in the U.S. for his injury and consider filing a lawsuit against the Border Patrol. The drug smuggler further testified Sanchez was the person who helped him find an attorney in the U.S. to represent him when he testified for the prosecution at the Ramos-Compean trial and to sue the Border Patrol for violating his civil rights....
Judge denies freedom plea by jailed ex-agents A federal appeals court judge yesterday denied a motion by former U.S. Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean that they be released from prison pending appeals in their convictions for shooting a drug-smuggling suspect. Ramos, 37, and Compean, 28, were sentenced to 11- and 12-year prison terms for shooting Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila in the buttocks as he fled near Fabens, Texas, back into Mexico after abandoning 743 pounds of marijuana. They sought release pending the outcome of their appeals, but the motion was denied by U.S. District Judge Fortunato Pedro "Pete" Benavides of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, sitting in Austin, Texas, who said the men "had not shown unique or unusual circumstances that justify their release based on an exceptional reason." Judge Benavides granted a motion by Ramos that his appeal be sealed and ordered the government's response to both men's motions sealed....
Border agents' case inspires song A Southern California musician has written and recorded a song to support imprisoned Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, whose case has stirred a congressional and grass-roots protest against the Bush administration. Michael Britton, who makes a living performing an acoustic one-man-band show, said he was inspired to act when he learned details of the case. Ramos and Compean were convicted and sentenced to 11 and 12 years in prison respectively after a drug smuggler they shot fleeing across the border was given immunity to testify against them. "I'm upset that men like Ramos and Compean are sitting in federal prison simply for doing their jobs, while drug smugglers are allowed to go free and sue the Border Patrol for violating their 'civil rights,'" he said....Go to the link to the article and you can listen to the song.
Sheriff: Deputy prosecuted by Mexico's demand Investigators had no plans to bring charges against Texas Sheriff's Deputy Gilmer Hernandez until the Mexican government intervened and demanded it, the officer's supervisor told WND. Sheriff Don Letsinger of Rocksprings, Texas, said the Texas Rangers were not going to recommend prosecution, but federal law enforcement took over the case in response to the Mexican government's intervention. Also, in the high-profile case of border agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, the Department of Homeland Security investigation was opened March 4, 2005, the same date the Mexican Consulate demanded prosecution for the shooting of drug smuggler Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila, according to numerous agency investigative reports authored by Special Agent Christopher Sanchez. WND can find no documentation of any Border Patrol investigation launched against Ramos or Compean prior to that date. In both trials, WND has uncovered indications the prosecutor, U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton, withheld key, possibly exculpatory, information from the defense and the juries. Hernandez stopped a van full of illegals for running a stop sign April 14, 2005, in Rocksprings. The driver attempted to run over Hernandez, prompting the officer to fire his weapon at the rear tires. A bullet fragment hit a Mexican woman in the mouth, cutting her lip and breaking two teeth. Hernandez, convicted of felony civil rights violations, is incarcerated in Del Rio, Texas, awaiting sentencing. "Deputy Hernandez had a right to stop that vehicle," Letsinger told WND. "Can you look at what happened and say that Deputy Hernandez intentionally wanted to injure someone in that vehicle? You cannot. Deputy Hernandez did not want to injure anyone that day. He fired at the tires to stop the vehicle and he was justified in doing so."....
Judicial Watch seeks Ramos-Compean records The government watchdog Judicial Watch has filed several Freedom of Information Act requests in the case of Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, who were sentenced to 11 and 12 years in prison in the shooting of a drug smuggler given immunity to testify against them. Judicial Watch Director of Research Chris Farrell told WND his group is seeking relevant records and communications from the State Department, several agencies within the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department, including the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas, which prosecuted the case. Judicial Watch requests information concerning: Drug smuggler Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila. * Any U.S. government "deals" with Aldrete-Davila. * U.S. government communications with the Mexican government concerning Aldrete-Davila and/or the prosecution of Ramos and Compean. * The participation of U.S. government personnel in coordinating, facilitating and/or approving the lawful entry or entries of Aldrete-Davila into the U.S.* The terms and conditions permitting Aldrete-Davila to lawfully enter the U.S....
Feinstein still probing Ramos-Compean case The office of Sen. Patrick Leahy confirmed to WND the Vermont Democrat has given Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., permission to investigate the prosecution and sentencing of Border Patrol agents Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos. As WND reported, Feinstein, who said she believes the sentences were "extreme," postponed the hearings, originally scheduled for Feb. 27. Leahy's office told WND Feinstein has the authority to schedule hearings on the case whenever she chooses. Feinstein is chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology, and Homeland Security. The California senator's office confirmed to WND an investigation into the border agents' prosecution and sentencing is underway, but no hearing dates have been scheduled....
Ramos attorney calls for mistrial The prosecutor in the high-profile case that sent border agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean to prison never showed the defense a potentially exculpatory Department of Homeland Security memo. The document, an April 12, 2005, memo by Special Agent Christopher Sanchez, was first made public by WND in a report published Feb. 6. Mary Stillinger, attorney for Ramos, confirmed she learned of the memo from the WND story. "This is huge," Stillinger told WND, arguing the government's failure to disclose the document to the defense denied her client his right to a fair trial and establishes the basis for declaring a mistrial. "The government has a 'Jencks Act requirement' to give us any written statements by DHS Special Agent Christopher Sanchez before the defense cross-examined him," Stillinger told WND. The Jencks Act requires prior statements of a witness be turned over to the defense before the defense begins cross-examination. "The prosecution could have waited until they questioned Sanchez at trial," Stillinger noted, "but they had an obligation to turn that document over to the defense before we started our cross-examination."....
Man shot in altercation with Border Patrol agents A Border Patrol agent shot a suspected illegal entrant three times early Wednesday morning at a Rio Rico gas station after the man became combative and reportedly started throwing rocks, officials said. The shooting victim, believed to be between 20-30 years old who has not yet identified, was in stable condition Wednesday morning with non-life threatening injuries after being airlifted to a Tucson hospital, said Santa Cruz County Sheriff Tony Estrada. The man suffered a wound to his arm and a grazing wound to his torso, he said. The encounter occurred shortly after 4 a.m. at the Pilot gas station/fast-food store just south of Rio Rico off of Interstate 19. Three Border Patrol agents were at the gas station on break to get coffee when they spotted a man they suspected was an illegal border crosser near the gas pump, Estrada said. When they approached him to ask him questions to determine his immigration status, he refused to answer and became combative. At one point, he pointed his finger at them and threatened to kill them, Estrada said. The agents, including one supervisor, called and asked for assistance from a Santa Cruz County Sheriff's deputy, who arrived within minutes, Estrada said. He was there with the people involved for a few minutes but was walking back to his vehicle when he heard shots fired, Estrada said. The man had reportedly picked up a rock and launched it at the agents, prompting the shooting, Estrada said. The deputy wasn't leaving the scene, but its unclear why he was walking back to his car, he said....