Agents Lose Last Appeal in Shot Smuggler Case

[Nole795]

I have worked in that area on federal cases though not immigration, and not Border patrol. While I am not clear on BP SOP, I can say is that in this day and time, you shoot at someone, you need to DOCUMENT IT. Plain and simple. These agents didn't do that and they got rid of the evidence. Good riddance to them.

[BP348]

There is a lot about this case that dosen't make sense. The biggest part is that they were convicted of a firearm offense that was never ment to be used against LEO's. Simple fact is as LEO's were expected to be armed while were at work.

That being said I don't get the whole picking up brass stuuf or why the AUSA's office was allowed to withhold evidence.

Charlie was correct about the jury's here in South Texas. I don't think it's possible for a USBP Agent to get a fair trial down here.

At most they deserved to be fired. Prison was to much.

[Group9]

There is a lot about this case that dosen't make sense. The biggest part is that they were convicted of a firearm offense that was never ment to be used against LEO's. Simple fact is as LEO's were expected to be armed while were at work.

That being said I don't get the whole picking up brass stuuf or why the AUSA's office was allowed to withhold evidence.

Charlie was correct about the jury's here in South Texas. I don't think it's possible for a USBP Agent to get a fair trial down here.

At most they deserved to be fired. Prison was to much.

Nothing those guys did was anywhere near as bad as the "House of Death" stuff that Sutton was neck deep in. No one trusts Sutton in the agency I work in.

[BP348]

Nothing those guys did was anywhere near as bad as the "House of Death" stuff that Sutton was neck deep in. No one trusts Sutton in the agency I work in.

House of death??

can you give me details? I've never heard about that.

[Norm357]

House of death??

can you give me details? I've never heard about that.

Bad stuff.

The "House of Death" case
Sutton's role in the "House of Death" case remains unresolved. Lalo, a paid informant of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), part of the Department of Homeland Security, and DEA, had infiltrated the Juarez Mexican drug cartel. In this situation he worked with Heriberto Santillan-Tabares and helped him to murder people in Mexico. Lalo had forehand knowledge of planned killings and informed his US handlers of the intended crime.[2] Local handlers were horrified that their informant was involved in murder and got advice from higher authorities. Sutton has been named as a key US official who was aware of the murderous activities of the informant, but failed to intervene.[3][2] The killings took place until January 2004.

[Group9]

There you go. Google ["Sutton" and "sandalio gonzales"] for more.

[BP348]

That Johnny Sutton, What a guy :rolleyes:

[Group9]

That Johnny Sutton, What a guy :rolleyes:

That's why its hard for me to look at stuff like Sutton prosecuting the agents as an isolated event. The more you know about Sutton, the more you detect a trend, and the more you realize something's not right on the border, or with him.

We have guys quitting on a constant basis who don't want to be part of that mess any longer. I had one call me last week asking me if he should quit or not, or if there was a chance of him getting transferred out. I really don't see how it could get any worse unless we actually just said, screw it, and signed a quit claim deed over to Mexico. And, maybe, not even then.

I don't know how the Border Patrol even recruits anyone anymore, when they know where they are going. We have to ambush guys, and tell them they are going there after they are hired on.

But, the whole case illuminates a complex problem. Who investigates a dirty U.S. Attorney, and how do you do it?

[charlydevo]

But, the whole case illuminates a complex problem. Who investigates a dirty U.S. Attorney, and how do you do it?

Especially when he's old buddies with the Commander in Chief. Anybody who thinks that Ramos and Campeon might get a pardon from Bush is crazy. Bush might agree that they should be pardoned. But, giving them a pardon would imply that his buddy was wrong and ruin his career.