Wives of the embattled agents join ABL 1/14

Patty Campean and Monica Ramos, wives of the US Border Patrol agents currently awaiting a possible pardon and commuting of their sentence will appear on BlogTalkRadio’s top-rated show “Annie & Burl Live!” with hosts Annie and Burl Gregory on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at 10pm Eastern.  The women will discuss the emotionally charged case which left both of their families without a husband and father through a series of prosecutorial over-charges and denial ofevidence.

When US Border Patrol agents Jose Alonso Compean and Ignacio Ramos suited up for work on February 17, 2006, neither agent knew that by performing their duties and upholding the laws they took an oath to protect, they would be lead into a downward spiral, eventually landing both officers behind bars and making them pawns in one of the country’s most disgraceful travesties of justice. 

While attempting to apprehend Osbaldo Alrete-Davila of Mexico, who was smuggling 800 pounds of marijuana across the border into the United States, agent Compean was assaulted.  Coming to his aid, agent Ramos yelled an order for the now fleeing Aldrete-Davila to stop, when the suspect turned toward the agent, pointing what looked like a gun. Agent Ramos, an eight-year veteran of the US Naval Reserve and a former nominee for Border Patrol Agent of the Year, fell back to his training and in the split-second time available to him he opened fire. The suspect turned and ran yet again, fleeing into the brush and disappearing from sight.

Two weeks after the incident, the Department of HomelandSecurity’s Office of Inspector General received a call stating that Aldrete-Davila had been wounded in the buttocks in the shooting.  In the days that followed, the US Attorney’s office filed charges against both Compean and Ramos claiming the agents had violated Aldrete-Davila’s Fourth Ammendment rights.  In one of the most stunning developments, Aldrete-Davila was given complete immunity for all immigration and drug charges in exchange for testimony against agents Compean and Ramos.  When the dust settled, the agents were convicted for discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, causing serious bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon, and a civil rights violation.

The families of Compean and Ramos have submitted an appeal to President George W. Bush to pardon both agents and commute their sentences, and are currently awaiting the decision.