Thursday, October 26, 2006
U.S. Attorney Tries Again to Get Extradition Help from Mexico on Alleged Daley Corruption Source
Remember how the "reform" President of Mexico wouldn't extradite Marco Morales, convicted felon who failed to report to prison?
Well, the U.S. Attorney's Office appears to be ready to try again. Here is a press release from U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald:
Morales, 61, was the first person charged in the Silver Shovel investigation, which became public in 1996 and revolved around bribes paid by an undercover cooperating defendant, John Christopher, to local government politicians.
In 1997, Morales pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with the Government in its investigation of local political corruption, but he became a fugitive when he failed to report to the Bureau of Prisons to serve a 59-month sentence for mail fraud and bribery. (United States v. Morales, 95 CR 742 N.D. Ill.)
Morales was arrested as a fugitive in 2004 by Mexican authorities at the request of the United States, but efforts to extradite him to Chicago were unsuccessful. The Government intends to ask Mexican authorities to extradite him to face today’s cocaine distribution charge.
The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Brown.
If convicted the drug charges carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of 40 years and a $1 million fine. The Court, however, would determine the appropriate sentence to be imposed.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the Government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Well, the U.S. Attorney's Office appears to be ready to try again. Here is a press release from U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald:
U.S. INDICTS MARCO MORALES, SILVER SHOVEL FUGITIVECHICAGO – A former Chicago contractor who became a fugitive after he was sentenced in 1997 to nearly five years in prison for his role in the Operation Silver Shovel investigation of public corruption in Chicago was indicted today for allegedly selling approximately a kilogram of cocaine. The defendant, Marco Morales, who is believed to be living in Mexico, was charged in a superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury, announced Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Morales, 61, was the first person charged in the Silver Shovel investigation, which became public in 1996 and revolved around bribes paid by an undercover cooperating defendant, John Christopher, to local government politicians.
In 1997, Morales pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with the Government in its investigation of local political corruption, but he became a fugitive when he failed to report to the Bureau of Prisons to serve a 59-month sentence for mail fraud and bribery. (United States v. Morales, 95 CR 742 N.D. Ill.)
Morales was arrested as a fugitive in 2004 by Mexican authorities at the request of the United States, but efforts to extradite him to Chicago were unsuccessful. The Government intends to ask Mexican authorities to extradite him to face today’s cocaine distribution charge.
The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Terra Brown.
If convicted the drug charges carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of 40 years and a $1 million fine. The Court, however, would determine the appropriate sentence to be imposed.
The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the Government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Comments:
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Okay, so,
The USA tolerated the first refusal to extradite a convicted fugitive and is going the politically correct route of asking a second time.
The USA tolerated and tolerates Mexico's unwillingness to step up to the plate and seriously stop its citizens from crossing our borders.
This tells me that Mexico doesn't give a flying fig about the safety of the USA people, nor does it give a flying fig about our laws.
And it wants our money with no strings attached.
I'm sure there's some reason we consider Mexico a friend... but I have no idea what it is.
I'm also sure there's some reason we keep electing and reelecting people who think this is a good way to run our country...but I don't know what it is.
The USA tolerated the first refusal to extradite a convicted fugitive and is going the politically correct route of asking a second time.
The USA tolerated and tolerates Mexico's unwillingness to step up to the plate and seriously stop its citizens from crossing our borders.
This tells me that Mexico doesn't give a flying fig about the safety of the USA people, nor does it give a flying fig about our laws.
And it wants our money with no strings attached.
I'm sure there's some reason we consider Mexico a friend... but I have no idea what it is.
I'm also sure there's some reason we keep electing and reelecting people who think this is a good way to run our country...but I don't know what it is.
Here's an interesting thought - whenever someone or some company sends me something I didn't want or didn't order - by mistake or on purpose, I return it to them until they send me the correct "item" or I just get a complete refund and call it a day.
Usually I demand a refund on the original shipping charges and the return shipping charges too. However, sometimes you just don't have the time or energy to fight all battles and you are best just getting a refund for the "item".
Now, while I realize that human beings/human lives should not be compared to "items", America IS faced with huge costs and safety issues that involve illegal immigrants from ALL countries. If Mexico refused or refuses to extradite a convicted fugitive on the first request, within a 24 hour time frame - perhaps returning 100,000 illegal (Mexican) immigrants to their homeland - each day - until the Mexican govt. stops insulting us with the extradition refusal might be an encouragement of sorts?
Hmmm - Mexican govt. supports hundreds of thousands of its own returning citizens or it coughs up a convicted fugitive to its friend and neighbor country? Is that what's considered incentive?
Note: I absolutely do NOT make light of the human beings who are in the middle of this issue. It is my hope that the Mexican people will force their government to be more accountable and more caring of its citizens. It is my belief that when Mexico's population reaches a certain count, that the people WILL demand and force change.
It has never made sense to me that a father/son/mother/daughter should be separated from family back home because they need to work in another country and send back checks to allow for survival.
The "encouragment" of separation of families is a sad and terrible choice by society and by certain businesses.
I wish the Mexican people peace and a better future.
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Usually I demand a refund on the original shipping charges and the return shipping charges too. However, sometimes you just don't have the time or energy to fight all battles and you are best just getting a refund for the "item".
Now, while I realize that human beings/human lives should not be compared to "items", America IS faced with huge costs and safety issues that involve illegal immigrants from ALL countries. If Mexico refused or refuses to extradite a convicted fugitive on the first request, within a 24 hour time frame - perhaps returning 100,000 illegal (Mexican) immigrants to their homeland - each day - until the Mexican govt. stops insulting us with the extradition refusal might be an encouragement of sorts?
Hmmm - Mexican govt. supports hundreds of thousands of its own returning citizens or it coughs up a convicted fugitive to its friend and neighbor country? Is that what's considered incentive?
Note: I absolutely do NOT make light of the human beings who are in the middle of this issue. It is my hope that the Mexican people will force their government to be more accountable and more caring of its citizens. It is my belief that when Mexico's population reaches a certain count, that the people WILL demand and force change.
It has never made sense to me that a father/son/mother/daughter should be separated from family back home because they need to work in another country and send back checks to allow for survival.
The "encouragment" of separation of families is a sad and terrible choice by society and by certain businesses.
I wish the Mexican people peace and a better future.
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