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Bush pardons 14 and commutes 2 prison sentences

By DEB RIECHMANN �?43 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AP) �?President George W. Bush has granted pardons to 14 individuals and commuted the prison sentences of two others convicted of misdeeds including drug offenses, tax evasion, wildlife violations and bank embezzlement.

The new round of White House pardons announced Monday are Bush's first since March and come less than two months before he will end his presidency. The crimes committed by those on the list also include offenses involving hazardous waste, food stamps, and the theft of government property.

Bush has been stingy during his time in office about granting clemency, but more grants are expected.

Including these actions, he has granted a total of 171 pardons and eight commutations. That's less than half as many as Presidents Clinton or Reagan issued during their time in office. Both were two-term presidents, like Bush.

On the latest pardon list were:

_Leslie Owen Collier of Charleston, Mo., who pleaded guilty in 1995 to unlawfully killing three bald eagles in southeast Missouri. He improperly used pesticide in hamburger meat to kill coyotes, but ended up killing many other animals, including the bald eagles. Collier, who was convicted for unauthorized use of a pesticide and violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, was sentenced Feb. 2, 1996 in the Eastern District of Missouri.

_Milton Kirk Cordes of Rapid City, S.D. Cordes was convicted of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act, which prohibits importation into the country of wildlife taken in violation of conservation laws.

_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, convicted of concealing knowledge of a crimeDolenz-Helmer, the daughter of a Dallas doctor accused of medical insurance fraud, was convicted in connection with the doctor's case. She was sentenced Dec. 31, 1998 in the Northern District of Texas to four year's probation with the special condition of 600 hours of community service and a $10,000 fine.

_Andrew Foster Harley of Falls Church, Va. Harley was convicted of wrongful use and distribution of marijuana and cocaine during a general court martial at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

_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 convicted of bank fraud.

_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.

Bush also commuted the prison sentences of John Edward Forte of North Brunswick, N.J., and James Russell Harris of Detroit, Mich. Both were convicted of cocaine offenses.

Under the Constitution, the president's power to issue pardons is absolute and cannot be overruled.

Some high-profile individuals, such as Michael Milken, are seeking a pardon on securities fraud charges. Two politicians convicted of public corruption �?former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif., and four-term Democratic Louisiana Gov. Edwin W. Edwards �?are asking Bush to shorten their prison terms.

One hot topic of discussion related to pardons is whether Bush might decide to issue pre-emptive pardons before he leaves office to government employees who authorized or engaged in harsh interrogations of suspected terrorists in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Some constitutional scholars and human rights groups want the incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama to investigate possible war crimes.

If Bush were to pardon anyone involved, it would provide protection against criminal charges, particularly for people who were following orders or trying to protect the nation with their actions. But it would also be highly controversial.

At the same time, Obama advisers say there is little �?if any �?chance that his administration would bring criminal charges.

Meanwhile, Ramos & Campeon still sit in prison. bushie boy is a sorry fu*king disgrace.

The National Border Patrol Council supports Agents Ramos and Compean, and is raising money to fund their appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court. "Shooting a drug smuggler who points a weapon at law enforcement officers who are attempting to arrest him is not a crime. Despite what U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton might think, it is illegal for prosecutors to deliberately mislead the judge and jury about the ongoing criminal activities of their star witness," said the Border agents union, which is raising money for a Ramos-Compean appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

'After 14 months of enduring the harsh conditions of solitary confinement, Director Lappin should do the right thing and exercise his authority to move the agents into more humane conditions,' stated Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.).'They are effectively serving a double sentence for an unjust conviction that may very well be overturned.

Because of security threats from Hispanic inmates imprisoned with them, Compean and Ramos were segregated from the general prison population and must remain in their cells for 23 hours a day. They are not afforded basic privileges other prisoners enjoy, such as telephone use, daily showers and television access. '

bushie boy, his henchman sutton and his good buddy Scooter baby live the high live, while these good men are suffering through this. This also effectively stops all communication with the agents. But bushie boy and sutton aren't hiding anything, right? Right. bush is a worthless piece of sh*t. Hopefully there really is a new sheriff in town and justice will finally come to bushie's victims, and to him and cronies.

I too, believe the president should pardon - and EXPUNGE all documents regarding America's sorrid conduct regarding these two guards. Especially after the fact, where the smuggler reverted to his old ways. It makes a mockery of our borders and our border agents. The only regret I have is that they didn't kill him rather than shoot him in the ass. This is Bush's chance to make amends.

bushie boy will never do the right thing for these agents But he sure loves the drug dealers, doesn't he. Pardons enough of them.

"Because of security threats from Hispanic inmates imprisoned with them"

What the article should have added is the fact that these Hispanic inmates are criminals who are also here illegally and were arrested by border agents. One of the border agents was beaten severely by them and then they took their sweet time getting him medical treatment and tried to lie and say he was hardly hurt. But at least bushie boy is taking good care of his buddies, scooter and the drug dealers.

Justice Department confirms report of assault,
Ramos: 'They kicked me �?all over the body'

Posted: February 06, 2007
3:03 pm Eastern

By Jerome R. Corsi
© 2008 WorldNetDaily.com

The Department of Justice has confirmed imprisoned former Border Patrol agent Ignacio "Nacho" Ramos �?sentenced to 11 years in the shooting of a drug smuggler �?was treated for injuries after reporting he was beaten in a medium-security facility in Mississippi.

WND received a statement issued by the agency citing Charles Smith, spokesman for the Federal Correctional Complex in Yazoo City, Miss.

Smith said that at about 10:15 p.m. Saturday, Ramos "reported to staff that he had been assaulted."

"Mr. Ramos was evaluated by medical staff at the institution who determined he had sustained some bruises and abrasions. The injuries sustained were minor in nature."

However, Ramos's wife and father-in-law told WND the former agent said in phone calls to them the assailants "got me pretty good," explaining he was assaulted by five Hispanic men with steel-toed boots �?likely illegal aliens �?who cussed him out in Spanish.

"They kicked me in the head, they kicked me all over the body. I'm all bruised and very sore," Ramos reportedly said, adding he bled from his left ear.

Ramos, Smith said, then "was placed in the Special Housing Unit pending a thorough investigation of the incident. He will remain in the Special Housing Unit until the conclusion of this investigation. No further information is available at this time."

Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, told WND he received verbal confirmation from the Bureau of Prisons that Ramos was assaulted and sent to the infirmary.

Poe was among a number of lawmakers and others close to the case who expressed concerned for the safety of Ramos and fellow agent Jose Compean if they were placed among the general prison population.

Unfortunately, this is not a surprise," Poe told WND. "The federal government doesn't do any better job of protecting border agents in jail than it does protecting them on the border."

Poe said the bureau is drafting a report on the incident, and he has requested a copy.

In a phone call from prison, Ramos told his wife yesterday the assailants allegedly threatened him in Spanish, taunting him with, "**** la migra." "Migra" roughly translates as "immigration," slang for Border Patrol agent.

Ramos had been moved to the medium-security facility about 10 days ago. He and Compean began prison sentences last month, of 11 and 12 years respectively, for their actions in the shooting and wounding of a Mexican drug smuggler who was granted full immunity to testify against them. The case has caused national outrage, and dozens of congressmen are publicly insisting President Bush grant an immediate pardon of the two law enforcement officers.

Ramos's family believes the decision to place him in a medium-security prison violates a promise from federal authorities that he would be kept in isolation at a minimal-security prison.

At Yazoo, Ramos was housed with the general prison population. A medium-security prison such as Yazoo would be expected to house illegal immigrants, including those incarcerated on drug offenses.

The prison attack came immediately after the airing Saturday night of a segment on Ramos and Compean by the "America's Most Wanted" television show.

"On Saturday night my husband said he went to bed," Monica Ramos told WND late today.

She recounted the telephone call from her husband in prison earlier in the day: "He just told me that he dropped his guard. 'They got me,' Nacio told me, 'they got me pretty good.'"

"'What happened?'" Monica Ramos said she asked her husband. "He told me they were in the television room watching 'America's Most Wanted.' After that, some time after 10 p.m., he went back to his cubicle and was almost falling asleep. He awoke to the sound of shoes stomping. It startled him because at night the prisoners are supposed to take their shoes off and put flip-flops on."

She continued: "He said he didn't have a chance to turn around and look at any of the guys attacking him at that time. He just felt a blow to the back of his head. The prisoners were kicking him with steel-toe shoes, the work boots they are issued in prison. They kept kicking and kicking. And they kept calling him in Spanish a **** immigration officer, saying 'darle, darle,' which means, 'give it to him.' They were cussing him out in Spanish. He couldn't fight back, he was outnumbered."

According to Loya, Ramos also said of the attack: "They kicked me in the head, they kicked me all over the body. I'm all bruised and very sore."

How did the attack stop?

"No security came to his rescue," the jailed Border Patrol agent's wife told WND. "Another inmate came and got him and said 'Hey, dude, let me help you up.' The other inmate walked my husband over to security."

Did the prison give him any medical treatment?

"As of the time we talked this afternoon, the prison still hadn't given him any medical treatment," she said, adding that he told her, "'I asked all day yesterday.' I'm in a lot of pain and I have blood coming out of my left ear.'

"His head and his back are hurting him badly. He said it was almost time for the prison doctor to go for the day and he wasn't sure when any doctor would be able to see him."

Ramos told his wife he was able to identify only one of the five assailants.

"They all cursed me in Spanish," he said, according to Loya. "As they were beating me up and kicking me, they kept calling me 'migra,' 'migra.' I'm pretty sure they were all illegal immigrants."

Ramos told his wife that he was badly bruised and bleeding from the ears. He said that immediately after the attack, he was placed back into solitary confinement, where he has been for the last two days.

"He told me that he asked to call me Sunday, after the attack," Monica Ramos continued, "but the prison wouldn't let him call me and they wouldn't let him call his attorney. He said the only reason the prison was letting him call now, on Monday, was because the Congress intervened, otherwise he wouldn't have been permitted any calls at all."

Patti Compean, wife of imprisoned agent Jose Compean, told WND her husband was in a different prison, still in solitary confinement.

Today is Ramos' 38th birthday. According to Loya, Ramos's three sons, aged 7, 9 and 13, woke up crying, not wanting to go to school. The children wanted to buy a cake and wait for their father to call so they could sing "Happy Birthday" to him on the phone and blow out the candles.

Early this morning, Loya began working with the office of Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R.-Calif., to see if the warden would give Ramos special permission to call home on his birthday, after his children got home from school.

However, the birthday call didn't happen, Monica Ramos told WND.

"We went out and bought a cake," she said. "The kids came home expecting their dad to call from prison so they could wish him a happy birthday. But there isn't going to be any call. My 7-year-old, when he woke up this morning, the first thing he asked was if we could still celebrate today. I told him, 'Sure we can, baby,' and he's been looking forward to it all day."

However, Monica added, in tears: "He told me, 'They're not going to let me call later today.' He said the call in the afternoon only happened because Congress allowed it to happen. He said he doesn't have any privileges in prison. He hasn't even gotten the mail that everybody has been sending him. He told me, 'You really need to get me out of here.' That's what he told me last."

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54110

But not for people like Dana Rohrabacher, R.-Calif., hounding the prison they would have let him die. Couldn't get him killed but managed to put them both in solitary confinement using this incident as an excuse, cutting off all contact from everyone. You know this came from very high up. bushie boy high up.

Tancredo Visits Assaulted Border Patrol Agent Ramos

Written by Bob Dill
Mar 05, 2007 at 11:48 PM
“Injuries Much More Serious Than Reported�?/FONT> Rep. Tom Tancredo visited imprisoned border patrol agent Ignacio Ramos in the Yazoo, Mississippi Federal Prison Sunday, February 11th. The Congressman reported Monday that the injuries to Ramos, inflicted by a prison gang, “were much more serious than have been reported. In fact, Agent Ramos�?bruises are deep and severe. His arm, chest and back are black and blue with broken blood vessels on his arm. Truthfully, it was a terrible sight,�?Tancredo reported. Ramos told Tancredo that, “he was assaulted Saturday night by roughly a half-dozen inmates who recognized him from an episode of a TV show that aired shortly before 10 p.m. He was pulled from his cell, which remains unlocked until midnight. “The attackers, who were wearing steel-toed boots, kicked Ramos repeatedly. He did not get to see a doctor until Wednesday, four days after the beating. “Prison officials moved Ramos to a special cell in near-solitary confinement, and I am working to get him transferred to a safer facility. “Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, of California, visited Yazoo Prison with me yesterday. When we asked to see photographs of Ramos as he appeared immediately after the beating, prison officials refused.�? The Congressman repeated a story that has circulated for weeks that “Federal prosecutors threw these Border Agents in prison while an illegal alien drug dealer walks free. And now, one of the agents is attacked viciously. Where is the justice!�? Tancredo is asking for people to send a letter or card of encouragement to Agent Ignacio Ramos and “consider helping my presidential campaign.�? The first Congressman to express concern over the open southern border, Tancredo said that “While Agents Ramos and Campeon were thrown into prison for over a decade apiece, what were the other Republican Presidential hopefuls doing?�? His answer was that “Mitt Romney was refusing to ask for a pardon, John McCain, Sam Brownback, Chuck Hagel and Rudy Giuliani were all continuing to press for higher immigration levels and illegal alien amnesties.�?

It's hard to believe that Bush won't pardon those border agents. What the heck is his problem with them? Surely they deserve it more than most of those people he already pardoned?

On a similar note. My Senator, Dick Durbin who is democrat, is considering asking for a pardon for former Illinois Governor Ryan who is sitting in federal prision for conspirancy charges. Ryan, who is a republican , is in his 70's and is in poor health as is his wife. I might go for that one. Just as long as they don't give him his pension back.

Read my post here; Bush pardons man who helped Israel during wartime

The pardon was not just for Mr. Winters. bushie boy also pardoned more druggies (got to keep the dope coming in for the dope), a man who was convicted of conspiracy to harbor and transport illegal aliens., to name some. But not our Border Agents. Glen Beck is right. There is something very dirty here that goes deep. (Mr. Beck calls the agents Political Prisoners). bush is getting something big out of this deal, while these good men and their families suffer. I caught his worthless piece of crap we call a president on CNN being interviewed and the reporter started to bring up pardons, but what one(s) we didn't find out cause he cut her off and told her we will not be talking about pardons. It has been on the news that he had to rescind a pardon, but there is no doubt he did not want to talk about our Border Agents either. I turned the channel ,I was so disgusted

Like most of us here, I'm disgusted with Bush's refusal to pardon and clear the records of our border agents. Seems like most of the pardonees are pretty much petty things. Do you suppose he just puts names in a hat and picks one out? Would be his type of reasoning and thought.

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