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Mexico's Latest Extraditions

I think the most suspect of Mexico's extradition decisions yesterday is that of Antonio Reynoso-Gonzalez. (Here is Mexico's announcement and here is DOJ's announcement.)

Today Mexico insisted yesterday's extraditions were part of a new streamlined policy and unrelated to the recent escape of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

Really? We are supposed to believe it is just happenstance that Antonio Reynoso-Gonzalez, a codefendant of El Chapo in the 1995 San Diego case involving the Otay Mesa tunnel and cocaine smuggled in chili pepper cans was one of the 13 persons extradited? This is the same case for which the U.S. recently sought El Chapo's extradition. [More...]

Another coincidence: Reynoso sought protection in Mexican courts against his extradition, alleging among other things the U.S. waited too long. (use google translate.) It didn't file its extradition request until January, 2014. That just happened to be the month before El Chapo was captured in Mazatlan. Surely the plan to capture El Chapo was underway by then.

What witnesses are still around to prove the charges once he gets to San Diego? Do we really want to foot the bill for a trial and years of incarceration for Reynoso for a drug crime committed so long ago? How many hours of prosecutorial time will be spent on preparing this case for trial that could better be spent investigating and trying those who pose a current threat to the safety of those in the U.S.?

Here are the facts of the case from the Government's 1996 trial brief in the case of Enrique Avalos-Barriga, the only one who went to trial. He is serving a life sentence. Also see my post here.

Meanwhile, in Chicago last week, the Judge approved new arrest warrants for El Chapo and his son, Jesus Alfredo Guzman-Salazar. And it ordered the unsealing of a 9th Superseding Indictment. Will there now be a third extradition order against El Chapo?

Authorities seem no closer to capturing him, despite the arrests of prison officials who may have aided in his escape.

Last question for now: Why doesn't DOJ's announcement mention the U.S. Attorney's office for the District of Southern California? Is it just an oversight?

Today’s extraditions were coordinated by the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs, the FBI, the DEA and the U.S. Marshals Service. The federal cases are being handled by prosecutors in the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section and Organized Crime and Gang Section and in the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the District of Columbia, Central District of California, Northern District of Georgia, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern District of Louisiana, Southern District of Texas and the Western District of Texas. The state case is being handled by the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for Arkansas.

Update 10/3/15: The San Diego Tribune also questions the motives for the Antonio Reynoso-Gonzalez extradition and does a good job of explaining the complicated connections in the 1995 case.

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  • Display: Sort:
    Very disappointing play... (none / 0) (#1)
    by kdog on Fri Oct 02, 2015 at 07:15:25 PM EST
    by our new AG.

    If only Trump were here to make Mexico pay for this sh#tshow. Outsmarted again!