Bush Pardons More Drug Dealers...Agents Ramos and Compean Still Waiting
By Dave Gibson (12/06/08)
A few days before Thanksgiving, President Bush issued a list of pardons and commutations. That list included two very high-profile convicted drug dealers, one of which was a former police officer who used his position to distribute millions of dollars of cocaine.
While Bush delivered an early Christmas present to several drug dealers and all manner of criminals, he chose to allow Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean to continue to languish in prison for shooting a Mexican drug smuggler.
Agents Ramos and Compean have been imprisoned now for nearly 700 days.
Bush commuted the prison sentence of rapper John Edward Forte of North Brunswick, N.J., who was arrested in 2000 inside the Newark International Airport with $1.4 million worth of cocaine in his briefcase. Forte was sentenced to 14 years in prison and has served only half of his sentence.
Bush also commuted the sentence of a former Detroit police sergeant who actually escorted major drug shipments into the city. In 1993, James Russell Harris was convicted of cocaine conspiracy, money laundering, and bribery. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Bush also granted full pardons to the following individuals:
Richard Micheal Culpepper of Mahomet, Ill., who was convicted of making false statements to the federal government.
Brenda Jean Dolenz-Helmer of Fort Worth, Texas, for reporting or helping cover up a crime
Milton Kirk Cordes of Rapid City, S.D. Cordes was convicted of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act (a law against the importation of wildlife).
Leslie Owen Collier of Charleston, Mo. Collier was convicted of unauthorized use of a pesticide and violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
Andrew Foster Harley of Falls Church, Va. Harley was convicted of wrongful use and distribution of marijuana and cocaine.
Obie Gene Helton of Rossville, Ga., whose offense was unauthorized acquisition of food stamps.
Carey C. Hice Sr. of Travelers Rest, S.C., who was convicted of income tax evasion.
Geneva Yvonne Hogg of Jacksonville, Fla., convicted of bank embezzlement.
William Hoyle McCright Jr. of Midland, Texas, who was sentenced for making false entries, books, reports or statements to a bank.
Paul Julian McCurdy of Sulphur, Okla., who was sentenced for misapplication of bank funds.
Robert Earl Mohon Jr. of Grant, Ala., who was convicted of conspiracy to distribute marijuana.
Ronald Alan Mohrhoff of Los Angeles, who was convicted for unlawful use of a telephone in a narcotics felony.
Daniel Figh Pue III of Conroe, Texas, convicted of illegal treatment, storage and disposal of a hazardous waste without a permit.
Orion Lynn Vick of White Hall, Ark., who was convicted of aiding and abetting the theft of government property.
Shortly after Bush granted his most recent pardons, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) released the following written statement: “The fact that the president has neglected to free these men from their imprisonment while freeing drug dealers, embezzlers and other criminals is insulting to the American people who have been begging and pleading for the president to release the agents whose prosecution was unjust from the beginning,”
Last year, President Bush saw fit to commute the sentence of I. Lewis ‘Scooter’ Libby. Bush made the following statement after granting the commutation: “I respect the jury's verdict. But I have concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr. Libby is excessive. Therefore, I am commuting the portion of Mr. Libby's sentence that required him to spend thirty months in prison.”
In doing so, Bush showed his complete disdain for the American people, our justice system, and those who defend this nation against foreign invaders. Apparently, Bush and his associates are above the law.
Bush cited Libby’s “exceptional public service” and expressed his concern over the harm being caused to Libby’s family in his statement on the commutation. Bush also claimed that Libby’s sentence was “excessive.”
However, in 2006, 75 percent of the 198 Americans convicted of obstruction of justice received prison time. According to the U.S. Justice Department, the average sentence for that charge is 70 months, while Libby was only given 30 months.
However, Bush has no compassion for Border Patrol Agents Ramos and Compean who are facing the following circumstances:
Agents Ramos and Compean received truly excessive 11 and 12 year prison sentences for what would ordinarily be handled as an administrative matter within the Border Patrol, which in the most harsh instances would yield a 5-day suspension without any loss of rank.
With no income from Ignacio and crushing legal bills, the Ramos family has suffered a tremendous financial crisis. Ignacio and Monica have three children and they are now on the verge of losing their home.
In June 2007, Tara Setmayer, a Congressional aide for Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) met with Agent Ramos in prison. She reported finding him in an “emaciated” condition, having lost more than 30 pounds since entering solitary confinement. Setmayer told WorldNetDaily: “He was very happy to see me, but, overall he was very emotional. He is demoralized. Languishing in solitary for 135 days takes its toll on anyone.”
Agents Ramos and Compean tried to protect this nation from a violent Mexican drug smuggler, and for that they will spend the next decade in prison. Both have small children and will miss many of the milestones in their young lives. Both families are working-class and face financial ruin with the main bread winner incarcerated. Being former law enforcement and having arrested many of the illegal aliens with whom they are now locked-up, their lives are in grave danger. It is a real possibility that these two men will never walk out of prison...I believe that is exactly what Bush wants!
Though U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton promised that Agents Ramos and Compean would not be placed into the general prison population, that is exactly what happened. Shortly after being sent to prison, Ramos has been attacked by a gang of illegal aliens, many of them wore steel-toed boots and kicked him in the head. He suffered several injuries as a result of the beating, and was not given medical treatment for days even though he was bleeding from the ear.
Bush has rescued from prison, one of his millionaire political cronies who lied for the administration, as well as a host of drug dealers. However, he has abandoned these two brave Border Patrol Agents the same way he has abandoned the security of the American people.
The real criminal here is of course Bush himself. For him and his crimes, the American people will never offer their forgiveness. For Bush is unpardonable!
Copyright 2008 Dave Gibson
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