President Bush Commutes Sentences of Agents Ramos and Compean

President Bush commuted the sentences of former Border Agent Ramos and Compean. The clemency comes nearly two years to the date the agents began their prison terms.

Ramos and Compean entered prison on January 17, 2007. After a long, hard fought battle waged with bi-partisan support and promises of relentless grassroots action our border defenders are coming home.

The prison term will end on March 20, 2009 and they will be reunited with their families. Reports indicate that Bush didn't pardon the men for their crimes, but decided instead to commute their prison sentences because he believed they were excessive and that they had already suffered the loss of their jobs, freedom and reputations.

Many have taken up the call for action for the imprisoned border agents. A tireless advocate for the men, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif had this to say to Foxnews.com, "his [President Bush] own stubbornness was overcome by better parts of his own soul." "The order reaffirms our faith that the system works, if indeed the American people are willing to work at it."

The agents were fired after their convictions on several charges, including assault with a dangerous weapon and with serious bodily injury, violation of civil rights and obstruction of justice. All their convictions, except obstruction of justice, were upheld on appeal.

Former Agents Ramos and Compean’s only hope was an act of clemency; they received that today. White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said Monday's commutations would be President Bush's last acts of clemency.

Sources;

President Bush Commutes Sentences of Agents Ramos and Compean

Bush Commutes Sentences for Two Former Border Patrol Agents | Political News - FOXNews.com

DOJ considering commutation for Ramos, Compean

DOJ considering commutation for Ramos, Compean. Attorney who makes recommendations to Bush has opened file on border agents. No pardons are being considered, however! Bush will allow the injustice of their convictions to stand!

read more | digg story

A re-cap of report can also be found here including more links and online petition established by WND.

DOJ Reviews Commutation for Ramos and Compean
As reported by WND, the U.S. Department of Justice has opened a file on imprisoned U.S. Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean and a commutation of their sentences is under review.

Read More

Bush Pardons 19 More

Bush Departs White House, 12,23,2008 for Christmas break.
Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Ramos and Compean Not Among the Christmas Time Pardons

Bush Pardons 19 More
President Bush pardoned 19 more, including smugglers of drugs and people, Bush continues to ignore Border Agents Ramos and Compean incarcerated for keeping the same out of a country he led.
View more »

President Bush Leaves Us with $17.4 Billion Auto Bill and Other Miscarriages of Justice

The Wrong Exit

Since my foray into writing for AC a year ago I learned a couple of things, sometimes the hard way, I discovered that writing can be salve for the soul and that some topics conjure up raw emotion.

I have followed the Ramos and Compean case closely and written about their plight. Please visit those articles to learn more about the miscarriage of justice:

U.S. Border Agents Ramos and Compean Need Our Support

Agents Ramos and Compean's Appeal is Heard

Ramos and Compean: One Year in Purgatory

I didn't have the stomach to write, blog, or talk much about the tragic results of their appeal, thankfully AC producer Shanika did. Please visit her article; Bush Pardons 14, Commutes 2; Ignores Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean

President Bush had the authority to right this terrible wrong since 2005, instead Mr. Bush averted his eyes. This miscarriage of justice was furthered and perpetrated by Mr. Bush's crony, Johnny Sutton, Texas US Attorney.

Last year, December 2007, Mr. Bush not only failed his Border Patrol Agents, the People of Texas, and the country, Mr. Bush pardoned actual criminals. You can read about that slap in the face here: President Bush Pardons Drug Dealers and Car Thieves

Shanika's article detailed this year's pardons and the continued ignorance of justice.

To add insult to injury, the outgoing president stiffs us with a 17.4 billion dollar bailout package for the crashing auto industry. Talk about sticker shock! This latest round of corporate welfare was doled out with "demands" that the fat cats in the industry shape up.

Yeah, right, and all the WIC mothers ensure they will fully support their next offspring. Some do, but many do not. Welfare is welfare folks, regardless if the recipient utilizes private jets for their transportation or the local A train.

Meanwhile, President-elect Obama and his sidekick Joe Biden are already calling for more money for the corrupt banking industry. Nothing like a couple of good ol' boys for the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac crowd. When is it going to end fellow taxpayer?

More on that here: Sex, Lies, and Video Tape Starring Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac

I tell you this, if in my industry I caused billions of dollars worth of damage to the country's financial health, you will not demand the feds to bankroll my industry or pension. You will call for my head while making sure my golden parachute is deflated.

Granted, the federal government was complicit in our current economical mess, so there should be some form of governmental penance, however it is still our penalty. Where is the justice and the safeguards to prevent a recurrence?

If a bank robber enters the bank and steals the deposits, your money is indeed backed up by federal funds, now to the tune of $200,000. Great we are protected, but if the loss were caused by a bank robber we would apprehend him, unmask him, demand repayment, and incarceration. In our current economic time, we should accept no less from the fat cats and politicians fleecing our economy.

Logic aside, it would warm this jingo's heart to see great Americans such as Anne Bryant, Aly Adair, the dastardly Snidely Whiplash, and so many others receive some of my hard earned tax dough to help their economy stimulating businesses run strong or stay a float.

But you see, Capitalism doesn't work that way. We thrive on competition, supply & demand, and hard work. Despite this hard work, many businesses go belly-up. The strong regroup, recoup and march on.

What we are witnessing here is a slow march, or goosestep, toward Socialism. Soon we will have government owned banks, real estate brokerages, and now auto companies. We are breaking our necks to get socialized medicine; I know Canada's system is touted. Before you jump on that Michael Moore bandwagon take a look at this liberal's perspective: Stronach went to U.S. for cancer treatment: report

Just in case you didn't read the report, I'll give you the short version. Canada's Liberal MP Belinda Stronach, who is battling breast cancer, traveled to California last June for an operation that was recommended as part of her treatment. The US treatment was recommended by the Canadian doctors.

Next thing you know we will be receiving free refrigerators, you know like the ones issued to the citizens under Castro's regime. Did I say free? I retract that, in fact the price is high; it is our Freedom.

Ramos and Compean: 100th Day Since Appeal

March 13, 2008 is the 100th day since the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans heard the Ramos and Compean case.

Many hoped that former agents Ramos and Compean would have been returned home for Christmas. Sadly, this is not the situation.

At the beginning of the appeal, encouraging news came in the form of Judge E. Grady Jolly’s comments stating that federal prosecutors "may have overreacted in their case against" Ramos and Compean. Jolly questioned Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Steimach saying, "It does seem to me that the government overreacted here."

Steve Elliott, President of Grassfire.org Alliance reports that Nacho Ramos and Jose Compean remain in solitary confinement while their families continue wrestling with mounting emotional and financial burdens.

This adds to the travesty of justice perpetrated by Western Texas U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton and his questionable prosecution.

It was always clear that the agents were in need of a presidential pardon by George W. Bush. It is obvious a pardon is not forthcoming, as the president remains loyal to his friend Johnny Sutton. Supporters of the agents remain hopeful of a positive ruling from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.

I have chronicled the events leading up to this 100th day, including the end of year presidential pardons that did not include Ramos and Compean. Links to those articles are included for your perusal.

1. U.S. Border Agents Ramos and Compean

2. Agents Appeal is Heard

3. President Bush Pardons

4. One Year in Purgatory

It is notable that during such dark times for the Ramos and Compean families, there remains strong grass roots and bipartisan support for the agents. The consistent champions of this cause are Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Steve Elliott.

Steve Elliott the president of Grassfire Alliance has established a means to aid both families. I have included that link here: http://www.grassfire.org/2142/offer.asp?rid=14953742

As the wheels of justice continue to grind at a snails pace it is difficult to predict if the original miscarriage will be righted. Until then I will continue to support and pray for their relief and that many will join in the efforts to ease the pain of the Ramos and Compean families.

I will furnish the means to forward any personal messages of encouragement to the agents upon request.

Ramos and Compean: One Year in Purgatory

(CNN image L to R: Ramos and compean)

By Tony Vega

Published here: >

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Today, January 17, 2008, is the one-year anniversary of the wrongful
imprisonment of U.S. Border Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean.

Steve Elliott, President of Grassfire.org Alliance mailed out the following press statement by Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA):

"It has been a year since Border Agents Ramos and Compean entered prison. This marks a year of shame for President Bush who has been fully aware of the details of this blatant miscarriage of justice and chosen to do absolutely nothing about it. Since day one, family members, a cross section of the American people and Members of Congress have pleaded with President Bush to pardon or commute their sentences to prevent these men from having
to endure the horror of federal prison.

For a year, the President has shown us his arrogant and heartless side by permitting the wrongful incarceration of Ramos and Compean to continue. He may have put Ramos
and Compean out of his mind, but for the rest of us, the President's disregard for Ramos and Compean’s injustice represents a definitive and deliberate inaction on his part.

The last year has been an absolute nightmare for these two men who risked their lives defending our borders. Agent Ramos was savagely beaten within days of imprisonment
and both men have been condemned to solitary confinement for a year, suffering conditions worse than detainees at Guantanamo Bay.

It is shameful that President Bush refused to show the
same level of mercy for Ramos and Compean that he was
so easily willing to grant his friend Scooter Libby."

Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), has been an outspoken advocate
of the agents.

The agents' appeal was heard before the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on December 3, 2007.

Grassfire has been in close contact with both Mrs. Ramos and Compean, and they have not received any indications as to when the ruling might be announced. They did however,
ask everyone to pray. Contingent upon the courts ruling, Ramos and Compean may be forced to serve their entire 11 and 12 years sentences, respectively.

Folks, this travesty of justice began when West Texas U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton manipulated the system for his own political advancement and perverse sense of justice.

This should serve as a harsh reminder that terrible things happen to good people. At this magnitude, American justice seems to be a foreign concept.

--------------------

Please review these other articles previously published regarding the plight of our former agents, the commencement of the appeal process, and the pardons by President Bush that ignored their plight.

Note: President Bush appointed U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton, and in deference to his “dear friend” will not address the plight of the agents. To view video of bush discussing this please activate hyperlinked note.

If you wish to correspond with agents contact author for information.

----------------------

Sources: Steve Elliott, President of Grassfire.org Alliance in an email 01/17/08 to author

President Bush Pardons Drug Dealers and Car Thieves

By Tony Vega for AmericanAngle.blogspot.com
Wednesday, December 12, 2007

On Tuesday, December 11, 2007, President Bush granted 29 pardons that included carjackers, drug dealers, a moonshiner and a violator of election laws. It was rumored that he was going to pardon Cheney pal I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby the former top aide who was convicted in the case of the leaked identity of a CIA operative. The full pardon for Libby would have been gravy; he already had his two ½-year sentence commuted by Bush over the summer. So much for the “rule of law.”

There are two American heroes, ladies and gentlemen, that sit in prison for securing our borders in Texas, Bush’s hometown, and protecting the sovereignty of our nation from Mexican drug invaders. It is painful to witness this president pardon Thanksgiving turkeys, drug runners, and car thieves. The president refuses to entertain the notion of pardons for former Border Patrol Agents Ramos and Compean, because as the president puts it his “dear friend” Johnny Sutton is a fair guy. This is where justice gets hijacked, folks. You see, Johnny Sutton a Bush appointee is the West Texas U.S. General Attorney, the top lawman in Texas. Sutton has in the past sent Texas law enforcers to prison for their roles in immigration enforcement. Apparently, the message to the lawmen out there is enforce our immigration laws at your own peril. Discouraging the border agents from enforcing our immigration laws creates in essence de facto amnesty.



Sutton will tell you it’s a matter of upholding the “rule of law.” I think most people can accept that. I certainly can. The only problem with these high level Texans is that they are full of horse crap. Sutton’s rule of law justified his office to suppress information regarding a drug runner that testified against the two agents. His rule of law allowed this same drug runner to continue dealing drugs from Mexico to the U.S., and commit perjury. Sutton’s Mexican drug dealer committed crimes that were not covered under his initial immunity deal. Some of those crimes were dealing drugs, perjury, and obstructing justice (lying to federal authorities). The “rule of law” should have prompted an investigation. Nope, not by Sutton. It took other federal agencies to arrest Sutton’s drug dealer for crimes that were being shielded by Sutton.

Sutton creatively managed to secure prison terms of 11 and 12 years for Ramos and Compean respectively, for enforcing our immigration laws. While that travesty took place, let’s take a quick look at a 2005 case involving a corrupt Border Patrol Agent for breaking our immigration laws while in San Diego.

The defendant Ortiz, a criminal illegal Mexican alien duped the U.S. Border Patrol into hiring him. Ortiz once legally armed with a gun and shield continued to smuggle people and drugs into the U.S. He was discovered, subsequently arrested and convicted of the following charges:

Case Number: 05CR1436-JAH
Defendant Oscar Antonio Ortiz
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
False Claim to U.S. Citizenship - Title 18, U.S.C., Section 911
Conspiracy to Bring in Aliens - Title 8, U.S.C., Sections 1324(a) (1) (A) (I) and (v) (1)
False Statement in the Acquisition of a Firearm - Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 922(a) (6) and 924(a) (2)
Illegal Alien in Possession of a Firearm - Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 922(g) (5) (A) and 924(a) (2).

Defendant Ortiz received a five-year prison sentence.

With in the scope of Sutton’s rule of law, Agents Ramos and Compean received 11 and 12 years in jail for enforcing the law!
As a result of the president’s cronyism and support of de facto amnesty, there is no pardon forthcoming for Agents Ramos and Compean.

Pardons are an end-of-the-year presidential tradition, and Mr. Bush was not expected to issue any more this year.

The presidential pardon list was issued by the Office of the Pardon Attorney at the Justice Department (Justice Department -what an oxymoron term that is becoming).
The criteria for Bush to examine prior to granting a pardon are the following:

1. The seriousness of the crime

2. How long ago it was committed

3. The acceptance of responsibility and showing of remorse

4. Post-conviction conduct and contributions to society

5. Any specific compelling need for relief

6. Official recommendations, including from the sentencing judge, the probation officer and the federal prosecutor.

Since President Bush apparently is confusing the seriousness of drug dealing and enforcing our immigration laws a pardon will not be forthcoming for the two agents.

Interestingly on the same day as the presidential pardons and on an unrelated topic Mr. Bush granted a very candid interview with ABC correspondent Martha Raddatz. During this Interview, Mr. Bush talked about overcoming his alcohol addition saying he hasn’t had a drink in over 20 years.

It was rare that the president discussed his addiction so candidly. Perhaps pardoning all of those drug dealers made him nostalgic.

Agents Ramos and Compean's appeal is grinding through the process, with a hopeful hearing that commenced on December 03, 2007.

Please take a moment to contact the White House and express your
outrage over this obvious Presidential oversight!

White House Comments Line: 202-456-1111
White House Fax: 202-456-2461
Email the White House: comments@whitehouse.gov.

Agents Ramos and Compean’s Appeal is Heard

By Tony Vega
Monday, December 03, 2007

Today, December 03, 2007 the appeal for former U.S. Border Patrol Agents Ramos and Compean was scheduled to be heard at 9:00 am at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The encouraging news is that Judge E. Grady Jolly, one of three Appellate judges stated that federal prosecutors "may have overreacted in their case against" Ramos and Compean. Jolly questioned Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Steimach saying, "It does seem to me that the government overreacted here."

To the casual observer these agents should have never been arrested in the first place. The Western Texas U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton apparently engaged in some very questionable practices in bringing forth the prosecution. Sutton’s team heavily relied on procedural violations by the agents after the attempted arrest and shooting of the drug smuggler, illegal criminal alien Osvaldo Alrete-Davila. There is precedent, namely United States v. Christo, in which the court held that criminal convictions based upon civil violations constituted plain error. Due process will be challenged. There are other nefarious actions by Sutton and his office, such as withholding details that would have shown Davila was not an innocent migrant humbly trying to enter the U.S. to better his life.

Investigators came into contact with Davila after a phone call generated by his mother to a long time family friend. This friend is the mother-in-law to a questionable Border Agent in Arizona. This agent Rene Sanchez grew up with the drug dealer and remained a contact for him. After the February incident in Texas involving Ramos and Compean, the Arizona agent Sanchez made numerous inquiries about the incident to the Texas station, including computer queries, to yet another agent by the name of Blanchett. Sanchez even went so far as to give agent Blanchett times of future illegal border crossing in his area. Why, did he pass this info on? How did Sanchez get this inside information into the illegalities of smugglers? These questions were never answered because U.S. attorneys refused to put agent Blanchett on the stand and successfully prevented the defense from calling him as a witness. The web becomes more tangled.

U.S. attorney Johnny Sutton has claimed there was no evidence at the scene capable of identifying Davila as the perpetrator. An independent review of court testimony available to the public reveals that two agents testified that Davila’s cell phone was recovered from his van, the same van containing 743 lbs of marijuana. This was not a scant mention of a phone, but a detailed account of where the phone was recovered and codes in the phone, commonly used by drug dealers. Johnny Sutton gave Davila immunity, so testimony about the cell phone and drugs in essence was pointless. It did, however, reveal more of Sutton’s deceptive ways and the need for a special prosecutor to look into this mess.

Agents Ramos and Compean could not catch a break; it seems they were caught up in a perfect storm of prosecutorial and investigative malfeasance. High level investigators from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was lying about Ramos and Compean when they reported the agents were “rouge agents looking to shoot a Mexican”, so admitted DHS Inspector General Skinner. Congress is calling for the firing of these investigators. Meanwhile agents Ramos and Compean sit in prison. There is no indication when the Appellate decision will be rendered.



Steve Elliott, President of Grassfire.org Alliance who has championed the cause of the two agents has requested the grassroots to respond-and keep respondinguntil this tragic wrong is righted and Ramos and Compean are freedto spend Christmas with their loved ones! Part of that effort is to blanket the nation with yellow ribbons for Ramos and Compean. After ordering yours, forward this message to your friends urging them to do the same by clicking here: http://www.grassfire.org/8142/offer.asp?rid=14953742

U.S. Border Agents Ramos and Compean Need Our Support

By Tony Vega
Wednesday, November 28, 2007


Former U.S. Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean are serving 11 and 12-year prison terms, respectively. This miscarriage of justice resulted from an attempted arrest of a criminal illegal alien smuggling drugs into the U.S.

My intention is not to retry the court case on these pages, but to illuminate the cause and further the grass root efforts endeavoring to right this terrible wrong by securing a presidential pardon.

Background
On February 17, 2005, at approximately 1:15 pm, the agents were attempting to apprehend a criminal illegal alien that smuggled drugs into the U.S. and assaulted agent Compean. The agents fired their weapons in self-defense at the perpetrator, later identified as Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila, striking him once on the left side of his buttocks. The drug smuggler sustained a non-life threatening injury and continued across the Texas border into Mexico evading arrest. His van loaded with 743 pounds of marijuana was secured and recovered on the U.S. side of the border. It was another valiant effort by the agents. (Agent Ramos has taken part in more than 100 drug busts and has never hurt anyone, despite having been assaulted and fired upon many times.)

Next, a series of egregious missteps took place by the agents and supervisors. In what I can only, describe as ineptitude on the behalf of supervision. There are conflicting reports claiming the boss on the scene was not happy about the failure to apprehend the perpetrator and was complicit in not preparing the voluminous paperwork. Due to the misconception that the suspect would not be captured, the arduous task of “paperwork” was a seemingly pointless effort. This miscalculation would serve as one of the weapons Texas U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton would use to place into the backs of justice and steal away the freedom of the two agents. I bet the agents never thought in a million years that their own country would be the perpetrator’s strongest advocate. The administrative incompetence is inexcusable. The penalty for this glaring snafu is 5 days suspension without pay. This should not translate into 11 and 12-years of imprisonment!

Davila was enjoying his freedom in Mexico, albeit not so well due to sub par medical treatment he received while on his home turf. After a series of phone calls emanating from the Mexican side of the border apparently originating from Davila‘s mother, U.S. authorities went into Mexico and encouraged an uncooperative Davila to return. With promises of a visa, free medical, and immunity from all assault and/or drug related charges, Davila happily returned to the land of opportunity. Once in the U.S., as per the agreement, Davila testified against agents Ramos and Compean. The claims that Davila was shot in the back was disproved by the governments own witness- the doctor that removed the bullet fragment from Davila. The government’s medical expert testified, "The smuggler was not shot from behind". "He was in a running position, (bladed position) and pointing back with his left arm and hand when the bullet hit his left side of his left buttock and traveled to his right groin. This scientific evidence supports the agent’s account. The theory that Davila was not armed is also preposterous. Does any reasonable person believe that an established drug smuggler would hold onto his illegally possessed firearm when showing up for an interview with U.S. authorities? Of course he didn’t have a gun on him a month after the fact. Johnny Sutton goes so far to say he believes the drug dealer, because if the drug dealer had a gun he would have displayed it at the original stop by Compean, not during the subsequent mad dash across the border. Huh? All such nonsensical theories and the benefit of the doubt was advanced and granted to the smuggler by the U.S. Attorney’s office. It was also revealed that prior to Davila‘s excellent medical care by the hands of the U.S. Army doctor, Davila arranged another drug shipment into the U.S. Why not take advantage of the free trip and make some side cash courtesy of the U.S.A.?

The agents were convicted of assault with a deadly weapon and for violating the drug smuggler's 4th amendment civil rights. The drug smuggler is suing U.S. taxpayers for 5 million dollars.


Logic, justice, and loyalty were hijacked in Texas. The agents are sitting in prison awaiting the snail pace process of an appeal. They are in need of a presidential pardon now!




Petition President Bush Today!
Please join the hundreds of thousands of concerned Americans and the bipartisan efforts of many congressional members in the campaign to garner a pardon for the agents. Follow the National Petition link below to sign the online petition.
National Petition And Media Campaign To Pardon AgentsRamos And Compean!
Total signers: 381,787
Your Sponsor: Mr. Tony Vega