Johnny Sutton
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Johnny Sutton is the United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas. Sutton chairs the Attorney General's Advisory Committee of United States Attorneys. He gained notariety by his handling of cases that involve events at the United States–Mexico border.
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[edit] Biography
Sutton graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor’s degree in International Business in 1983, and went on to earn a Juris Doctor degree at the University of Texas School of Law in 1987. He then worked as a criminal trial prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney’s Office in Houston. From 1995-2000 Sutton worked for then-Governor George W. Bush under Alberto Gonzales, then the governor's General Counsel, as the Criminal Justice Policy Director. With the election of President Bush, he worked with A. Gonzales and became coordinator for the Bush-Cheney Transition Team assigned to the Department of Justice where he served as Associate Deputy Attorney General. Bush nominated him to his current position on October 25, 2001, and his nomination was confirmed by the Senate. On March 28, 2006 Gonzales named Sutton Chair of the Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys.[1]
[edit] The "House of Death" case
Sutton's role in the "House of Death" case remains unresolved. Lalo, a paid informant of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), part of the Department of Homeland Security, and DEA, had infiltrated the Juarez Mexican drug cartel. In this situation he worked with Heriberto Santillan-Tabares and helped him to murder people in Mexico. Lalo had forehand knowledge of planned killings and informed his US handlers of the intended crime.[2] Local handlers were horrified that their informant was involved in murder and got advice from higher authorities. Sutton has been named as a key US official who was aware of the muderous activities of the informant, but failed to intervene.[3][2] Killings took place until January 2004. Once the Mexican government got notice, a mass grave containing at least twelve bodies was found in a house on 3633 Calle Parsonieros, Ciudad Juárez, dubbed the "House of Death." Santillon was convicted of trafficking by Sutton, but never accused of murder, and Lalo, the former informant for the US government, sits in a high security prison awaiting extraditon to Mexico, according to him a death sentence.[2]
[edit] Intimidation
Subsequent to the publication of the "House of Death" story, the investigative journalist of narconews, Bill Conroy, received intimidating visits at his office, his home, and a visit to his employer from officers of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, an event that prompted a letter by Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney blasting Sutton for "an attempt ... to intimidate a journalist who has reported facts that are embarrassing to him".[4]
[edit] Cases against law enforcement agents
[edit] Ramos and Compean
Border agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean were persecuted by Sutton for the shooting and wounding Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila, a drug smuggler who had illegally crossed the border between Mexico and the USA near Fabens, Texas. According to Sutton, the agents fired fifteen shots at the unarmed man in broad daylight on February 17, 2005, and later gave a false report after they hadremoved their shell casings from the scene. Aldrete-Davila’s van contained nearly 800 pounds of marijuana. Following the incident, Aldrete-Davila was granted immunity, given a border crossing card, and medical treatment in exchange for giving his testimony against Ramos and Compean. Aldrete-Davila has also filed a $5 million lawsuit against the U.S. government, claiming that his civil rights were violated.[5] Based on his testimony the border agent Jose Compean was sentenced to 12 years and agent Ramos to 11 years and 1 day in October, 2006.[6]
[edit] Hernandez
Gilmer Hernandez is a former Sheriff’s Deputy of Edwards County, Texas from Rocksprings, Texas who was convicted of violation of civil rights of an illegal alien he accidently wounded when he was shooting out the tires of a fleeing van.
[edit] Reactions
Sutton's prosecution has been criticized because it demonstrates the US government fighting its own agents. The case of Ramos and Compean has been repeatedly shown by Lou Dobbs on CNN as evidence that the US government is not interested to stem illegal immigration. For their defenders it appears that the agents are placed in difficult position when the government fails to support their work. Petitions are ongoing for the pardon of Ramos and Compean[7] and of Hernandez.[8] On January 18, 2007, President George W. Bush agreed to review the their case, and Representative Duncan Hunter introduced a bill, entitled the Ramos and Compean Act, that would pardon these two agents.[9]
Ramos, Compean, and Deputy Gilmer Hernandez have been dubbed "The Texas Three." As Sutton was involved in their prosecution, Grassfire.org's FireSociety has received 8026 petition signatures to remove Sutton as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas.[10]
In response to criticism, Sutton's office has published multiple press releases concerning the Ramos and Compean case after the initial announcement on 4/13/2005.[11]
[edit] References
- ^ Appointment to chair Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys]
- ^ a b c The Observer (12/3/2006). The House of Death.
- ^ Bill Conroy (2005). Ex-DEA El Paso Chief Slams U.S. Attorney Sutton Over “Murders Gov’t Could Have Prevented”.
- ^ Letter of Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney
- ^ Seper, Jerry. "Lawmakers seek review of border agent case", The Washington Times, 2006-08-23. Retrieved on 2006-12-14.
- ^ Gilot, Louis. "Sentence handed to border agents; free until Jan. 17", El Paso Times, 2006-10-20. Retrieved on 2006-12-14.
- ^ Meritz, Darren. "Vigil supports convicted ex-border agents", El Paso Times, 2007-01-14. Retrieved on 2007-01-19.
- ^ Petition to free Gilmer Hernandez
- ^ Carter, Sara A.. "Bush will review border agents' court case", Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Los Angeles Newspaper Group, 2007-01-19. Retrieved on 2007-01-19.
- ^ Petition to remove Johnny Sutton
- ^ Access to press releases by J.Sutton
