Mexican national Heraclio Osorio-Arellanes, who has been charged with the first-degree murder of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry, was extradited to the United States Tuesday night for prosecution by the Department of Justice. Osario-Arellanes was arrested by Mexican authorities in April 2017.
“The Department of Justice is pleased that the suspected killer of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry has been successfully extradited to the United States and will now face justice for this terrible crime,” said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. “We are grateful for the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection as well as our law enforcement partners in Mexico. To anyone who would take the life of an American citizen, in particular an American law enforcement officer, this action sends a clear message: Working closely with our international partners, we will hunt you down, we will find you, and we will bring you to justice.”
Agent Terry's sister, Kelly Terry-Willis, posted about the news on Facebook.
Agent Terry was murdered on December 14, 2010 patrolling Rico Valley, Arizona. While Osorio-Arellanes is suspected of pulling the trigger, six other men have also been charged with his death. Three have pleaded guilty and two were convicted by a jury. Jesus Rosario Favela Astorga, who has been charged, is waiting to be prosecuted.
According to DOJ, "the indictment charges the defendants with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, attempted interference with commerce by robbery, use and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer." The men are also being charged with assaulting Border Patrol Agents William Castano, Gabriel Fragoza and Timothy Keller, who came under fire with Terry the night he was killed.
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The men were part of a rip crew and used weapons to kill Terry that were purposely trafficked by the Obama Justice Department to Mexican drug cartels through Operation Fast and Furious.
“The arrest and extradition of Osorio-Arellanes reflects the steadfast commitment and tireless work of the United States and our law enforcement partners in Mexico, who shared the common goal of seeking justice for the murder of Agent Brian Terry,” U.S. Attorney Adam Braverman said. “When an agent makes the ultimate sacrifice while serving his country, we must hold all the individuals who played a part in this tragic outcome accountable for their actions. This extradition moves that important goal forward.”
Osario-Arellanes will be arraigned in U.S. District Court in Tucson, Arizona, Wednesday afternoon.
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