U.S. agent Jaime Zapata, killed in 2011 |
In January 2020, two members of Los Zetas who
participated in the 2011 murder of U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE) agent Jaime Zapata in San Luis Potosi had their
sentences vacated and sent to a lower court for limited re-sentencing
because the murder occurred outside of the U.S.
Earlier this week, U.S. Senator John Cornyn filed the
"Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila Federal Law Enforcement Protection
Act" in hopes of clarifying a federal law that protects federal officers
and employees serving overseas.
"Federal law enforcement officers make incredible
sacrifices to protect Americans both on and off American soil, and they deserve
our support no matter where they're stationed," said Cornyn in a
statement. "This bill in honor of the brave Special Agents Jaime Zapata and
Victor Avila will make it clear once and for all that we have our federal
agents' backs."
Cornyn's bill amends section 1114 of title 18, United
States Code by adding the word “extraterritorial jurisdiction."
Zapata's murder: February 2011
The stakes for the U.S. government in Mexico's drug
war were raised on 15 February 2011, when two U.S. federal agents - Jaime
Zapata and Víctor Ávila - were victims of an attack by members of Los Zetas in
a highway in San Luis Potosí.
At least 15 gunmen reportedly erected a fake military
checkpoint and surrounded the agents' car by ramming their vehicles into
theirs. The gunmen then opened fire, killing Zapata and injuring Ávila.
The agents were travelling from Laredo, Texas, to Mexico City in a SUV bearing
diplomatic plates while on official work assignment.
Mexican authorities arrive at the crime scene after the shootout |
The motives behind the attack were never clearly
established; the U.S. government stated that the Zetas members were hijacking
vehicles to use for their cartel operations and that their two agents were
victims of such activity.
Ávila stated that the Zetas members knew they were
U.S. officials but proceeded to attack them anyways. The detainees, however,
claimed that they were unaware of their identities and believed they were
members of a rival drug cartel.
The attack was the first murder of a U.S. agent in
Mexican soil since the killing of DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena,
who was murdered by Guadalajara Cartel members in 1985.
Sentences vacated: January 2020
Zetas members Jose Emanuel Garcia Sota (AKA Juan
Manuel Maldonado Amezcua, Zafado or Safado), 36, of San Luis Potosi, Mexico,
and Jesus Ivan Quezada Piña (AKA Loco), 29, of Matamoros, Mexico, are among
seven Mexican nationals who were extradited to the U.S. on federal charges in
this case.
In June 2017, the two were found guilty by a jury of
the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, and sentenced by the
Honorable Judge Royce C. Lamberth to life imprisonment in November.
Their attorneys stated that there was no physical evidence
tying them to the shootout and that the only evidence presented by the
prosecution was from other Zetas members who testified against them.
Their sentences were vacated and sent to a lower court
for limited re-sentencing in January 2020, as reported by Borderland Beat.
If you kill a U.S. agent you should consider yourself a dead man walking. The CIA will eventually find you.
ReplyDeleteYou mad bro
DeleteRCQ doesn't agree!
Delete@819 he’s not mad bro he’s stating facts alphabet boys don’t play by the rules they make and change as they go along
Delete-El E1
Green lighted by the U.S. Government...
ReplyDeleteLol I know right he probably was about to snitch or was a so called honorable cop
DeleteThey’re still with that Kiki Camarena issue. They sentence him to risk his life over some marijuana, yet marijuana is basically almost legal in the United States. How do they feel they have the agent’s back?
ReplyDeleteBefore all the backlash comments, I know it wasn’t all about the marijuana, but it was the raid on the Bufalo ranch (marijuana plantation) that finally drew the last straw for Camarena.
It was about the murder and corruption that came with the drugs.
DeleteDamn they are guilty of killing, yet a lawyer is trying to get them off the hook. Cartel crime never endless. Do the crime pay the time in prison.
ReplyDeleteWhat about the innocent kid who got shot by immigration and didn't even make it to court? They should be held responsible too
ReplyDelete@ 8:13
DeleteI agree 💯
@ 8:13
Deleteinnocent ?? the jury is still out on that one
What the hell is 2 FBI / dea guys doing riding in a car knowing mexico is full of gang bangers
Stupid Stupid They knew it was a fifty fifty chance on driving on that rd If they didnt they wete ill imformed
I have a feeling something is not being told or is never gonna be the real reason these two dudes got killed / murdered
theres enough small aircraft to use,, instead of driving in well known areas of Drug controled areas cars marked by officals again this was way too stupid and ignorant thing to do
maybe they were high on speed or crystal and their EGOS
thought they were bullet proof
The KID throwing rocks across the fence with friends across the border and border patril shot him and killed him.. No court pending and killing is SUPPOSEDLY justified.. BS
DeleteOr maybe just wipe them out
ReplyDelete@ 4:23
ReplyDeleteMaybe they should keep hands off America
works both ways my friend