San Diego, CA – Ivan Soto-Barraza, a suspect in the murder of United States Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry, has been extradited to the United States from Mexico, announced Attorney General Eric Holder and U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy of the Southern District of California.
On December 14, 2010, Agent Terry was fatally shot in a firefight with Soto-Barraza and others in a rural area north of Nogales, Arizona. The shooting also involved Border Patrol Agents William Castano, Gabriel Fragoza, and Timothy Keller, who were also assaulted during the incident.
"This marks another step forward in our aggressive pursuit of those responsible for the murder of Agent Brian Terry, who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving his country," said Attorney General Holder. "We will never stop seeking justice against those who do harm to our best and bravest."
"This extradition is another major development in the pursuit of justice for Agent Terry and his family," said U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy. "As we continue to make significant progress in this case, we are constantly motivated by the memory of Agent Terry and his sacrifice for our country."
Soto-Barraza is scheduled to be arraigned in federal district court in Tucson, Arizona, on August 1, 2014. He faces charges of 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.
Two other defendants have pleaded guilty in the case, and two are awaiting trial. Manuel Osorio-Arellanes, a fifth defendant, pleaded guilty to first degree murder and was sentenced to 30 years in prison in February 2014. A sixth defendant, Rito Osorio-Arellanes, who was in custody at the time of Agent Terry’s murder, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and was sentenced to eight years in prison in January 2013.
A $1 million reward was offered for information leading to the arrest of four fugitives, including Soto-Barraza. Portillo-Meza, one of the fugitives, was captured in Mexico in September 2012 and extradited to the U.S. on June 17, 2014. Favela-Astorga and Osorio-Arellanes remain fugitives at large.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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