Ramos and Campeon update

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1. J's Cafe Nette

   July 17th, 2007 at 11:01 pm

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   More on the Border Patrol Agents…

   For those interested in information on yesterday’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearings regarding Border Patrol Agents Compeon and Ramon this was the one site which I found offered information and links early this morning.
   (This link is not broke…

2. perdogg

   July 18th, 2007 at 5:50 am

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   If the drug dealer violated the immunity deal, what does that have to do with what the BAs did?? Is there any debate or question as to what the BAs did??

   I think the two issues should be kept seperate.

3. retire05

   July 18th, 2007 at 6:41 am

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   I am going to also give kudos to Senator Dianne Feinstein who cut Johnny Sutton absolutely no slack. When a Democrat does something right, they deserve credit for it.
   Even Jeff Sessions, a former federal prosecutor, thought the sentencing harsh and that the statute that was used against Ramos/Compean was taken out of context as law enforcement officers carry weapons as routine in their jobs.

4. retire05

   July 18th, 2007 at 7:32 am

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   Mac, this is why I love your blog so much. You said you were currently pouring over the trial transcripts. Just as you did with the “Give America Away To Illegals” Bill. For that I thank you.
   I watched the hearing yesterday and was surprised at how ill prepared Johnny Sutton seemed to be. I realize the case is up on appeal, but Sutton kept talking about how many square miles his office covers, how many cases they prosecute every year, how hard they work and how understaffed he is (but dont’ get Sutton wrong, he says the government has furnished him with lots of resources, added as a caveat) and when posed with questions he should have know the answers to, he said more than once he would have to check with his staff and get back to the Senators on that question. He was clearly nervous and seemed defensive about the case. When Cornyn asked him why Davila was not prosecuted for perjury and violation of the immunity agreement, Sutton said his office would look into it. Sutton kept trying to make a point of the fact that he, himself, did not prosecute the case, yet admitted that things like plea bargains had to be approved by him.

   perdogg, yes, there is a debate as to the actions of the Border Patrol agents. Sutton CANNOT prove that Davila was unarmed and a cell phone, which Davila probably had, could have been mistaken as a weapon. It is also strange that absolutely no fingerprints were found in the drug van. None. None from the workers at the factory that built the van. None from the people who loaded the dope. None from Davila. None from the agents who opened the van doors. None. If that doesn’t strike you as odd, then please, don’t even become a law enforcement officer.

5. Harold C. Hutchison

   July 18th, 2007 at 9:59 am

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   If this shooting was on the up-and-up and legit, then why did Ramos and Compean “clean up” the scene and NOT report the shooting up the chain of command?

   Was it because they’d have to explain why they fired fifteen rounds at a man running away after Compean tried to butt-stroke him with a shotgun as he had his hands up – having surrendered?

6. retire05

   July 18th, 2007 at 10:43 am

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   Harold, have you even bothered to read the trial transcripts?

   Are you aware that BP agents are trained to pick up their shell casings and dispose of them?

   Are you even aware that BP agents are not required to report a shooting in writing but are actually prohibited from doing so?

   Are you aware that the supervisor that was at the scene was not only not disciplined for Sutton’s claimed “cover up” but has actually been promoted?

   Are you aware that that supervisor is required, by BP rules, to contact the FBI in a shooting, which he did not do due to “the late hour and excessive papar work”?

   You are taking the word of a known drug runner who claims he was not armed over that of two BP agents who say he was. Sutton did the same thing. The same drug runner that perjured himself, brought in a second load the following October, violated the terms of his immunity and got a “get into the U.S.” free pass from Sutton who has put other law enforcement officers in prison. One who was completely exonerated by the Texas Rangers. Same U.S.DA, same court, same jury makeup.

7. Harold C. Hutchison

   July 18th, 2007 at 11:23 am

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   I’m at a disadvantage… I have only read Patterico’s post with a summary of the trial.

   My time constraints have not permitted me to look over the transcripts. But it is very telling that the Patterico analysis doesn’t dispute Sutton’s contention that the agents failed to report the shooting – and that the supervisors were not present.

   Very telling, in my opinion.

8. Harold C. Hutchison

   July 18th, 2007 at 11:29 am

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   One other thing: I do believe we ought to treat them differently. Cops ought to be held to a higher standard of conduct. To do otherwise is to risk damage to this country that would be far greater than a drug smuggler running in weed.

9. For Enforcement

   July 18th, 2007 at 11:59 am

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   I heard Sutton yesterday and again this morning on C-span. The very least that I can say is that the whole case needs to be reviewed. I can see some things being excluded from the jury, but when he was caught violating his immunity agreement PRIOR to the trial, that should have invalidated the deal. I have not read the transcript, but from what Sutton says, without Avila’s admission under the immunity agreement, they could not have linked him to the Marijuana. But that’s not at all clear to me. For now, put the agents under house arrest and get them out of the prison they’re in until the case has been thoroughly reviewed. Let’s get to the truth of the matter.

10. retire05

    July 18th, 2007 at 12:10 pm

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    Gee, Harold, I’m glad to know that you feel qualified to discuss a case when you have never read the transcrips of the trial but simply rely on someone who is also a prosecuting attorney.

    Why are law enforcement officers to be held to a high standard of morality than a computer programer? Are they special? Or is that just your way of legitimizing something you seem to know little about? I hope you balance your checkbook with more information than you judge two Border Patrol agents with.

    BTW, Patterico is wrong; there was a supervisor at the scene of the shooting.
    Perhaps the two of you could at least get your facts right before you sing the praises of a out of control USA that is now got another BP notch on his belt and looking for another one.

11. Marilyn

    July 18th, 2007 at 9:30 pm

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    My son, who did contract work for the DEA during the 1980′s and 1990′s told me that “no drugs come across the border without the DEA’s knowledge. and the only people who get busted are those who are smuggling drugs in competition to the DEA’s operations.” With that it mind, it appears obvious that these agents were punished for persuing a protected “agency” mule and that Johnny Sutton is part of the “enforcement team” who protect the “Agency” by prosecuting and punishing those who threaten it.

    The fact that a govt agent in Ariz., who grew up in the mule’s home town in Mexico and knew his family, contacted Sutton and arranged the immunity deal, is another indication that this is about more than just a drug smuggler getting shot in the ass. And now, since he has been treated so well and his rights have been explained to him is suing the American Taxpayers for $5 million. Someone needs to do a thorough investigation to see who is working for whom in this deal. Sutton has prosecuted others who have interfered with cross border smuggling operations.

    Statistics indicate that our government now has more executive level positions than there is a percentage of our society with the intelligence to fill them. Is it possible that someone in one of those positions is making money on the side? Maybe it isn’t just the Mexican officials who are part of the problem. This whole deal smells to the high heavens. If George Bush is not going to put his weight behind giving us the answers, maybe the investigation should start with him. Just what are his connections to the people involved in this?If not him, could it one of his appointments? Maybe if someone suggested he may be involved it would give him an incentive to get invloved in seeing that justice is done in this case.

12. retire05

    July 19th, 2007 at 5:36 am

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    Marilyn, you are so far wrong on so many counts I don’t know where to begin so let me just take one:

    after Davila was shot, his mother contacted the mother-in-law of one Rene Sanchez, BP agent, who had known Davila’s family and claims to have been friends with Davila’s brother. Sanchez then spoke with Davila and afterward contacted his BP supervisor and the supervisor then contacted DHS.
    DHS Chris Sanchez (no relation to Rene) then made arrangements through Rene to meet with Davila.

    While there may be a good cop/bad cop senario here, it is Rene Sanchez, Arizona BP agent that should be looked at, but Sutton, or DHS, bothered to look at the connection between Rene Sanchez and Davila.

    And yes, Davila is suing the federal goverment with an attorney he was introduced to by Rene Sanchez.

    And while your “son” may see some high ranking conspiracy theory on drug smuggling, I promise you, the cartels are smarter than that.

13. habanero

    July 19th, 2007 at 6:58 am

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    Marilyn
    DING DING DING! We’ve got a winner!

    I lived in south Texas in the 80′s, and stuck my nose where it didn’t belong. I interfered with a dope running operation being protected by corrupt cops. I had at least three attempts against my life.

    It’s not a theory, it’s a fact. You can’t have a large scale dope running opperation without corrupt cops protecting it.

    If I remember correctly, it was 1988 when Gov. Bill clinton was sued for ordering his Arkansas State troopers to “RACIAL PROFILE”, allegedly to stop drug runners. In fact they were providing protection for certain drug runners.

14. Marilyn

    July 19th, 2007 at 1:06 pm

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    Retireo5, My son stopped working for the DEA when he discovered what was really going on. He participated in a raid to take out a big time Drug cartel leader in which the top dog was shot up so bad he was not recognizable. The rest of the team got on a plane and flew back to California, but he boarded a plane to Miami because he wanted to visit friends on the East Coast. He said to his surprised, the drug cartel leader they had just “killed” was on the same plane. He followed him to an empty warehouse in Miami.

    Sure, conspiracies like this are all the products of deranged minds. We all believe that. I still think those two border patrol agents are in jail to send a message to other agents that they are not to touch the “agencies” protected mules. Why else was this guy given a free pass and allowed to continue to smuggle drugs into this country? Immunity was one thing, but a free pass when they knew he was a smuggler? Give me a break. This stinks to the high heavens. Everybody involved in it should be suspended until a satisfactory explanation for why the good guys ended up in jail and the bad guys walked.