In a chilling and brazen attack, DEA Special Agent James ‘Terry’ Watson was kidnapped and murdered in Bogotá, Colombia, on June 20, 2013. Today, two Colombian nationals, Édgar Javier Bello Murillo and Omar Fabián Valdes Gualtero, were sentenced to 440 months and 348 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in the heinous crime.
According to court documents, Bello Murillo, 28, and Valdes Gualtero, 28, were part of a six-person robbery crew that targeted Special Agent Watson. The crew ‘paseo milionarios’ or ‘millionaire’s rides’ in which victims were lured into taxi cabs, kidnapped, and then robbed. On the evening of June 20, 2013, they targeted Special Agent Watson, who was able to escape from the taxi but later collapsed and died from his injuries.
Attorney General Eric Holder praised the efforts of law enforcement agencies, saying, ‘With these sentencings, all seven defendants involved in the kidnapping and murder of Special Agent Terry Watson have been found, prosecuted, and brought to justice.’ DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart added, ‘DEA is grateful that the final two defendants connected to Terry Watson’s murder faced justice in a U.S. court of law for their heinous crime.’
Édgar Javier Bello Murillo and Omar Fabián Valdes Gualtero pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and conspiracy to kidnap an internationally protected person on Dec. 19, 2014. In their statements of facts filed with their plea agreements, they admitted to their involvement in the kidnapping and murder of Special Agent Watson.
This case was investigated by the FBI, DEA, and DSS, in close cooperation with Colombian authorities. The cooperation and dedication of law enforcement agencies have brought justice to the Watson family and the DEA community. The case serves as a reminder of the bravery and sacrifice of law enforcement agents like Special Agent Watson who risk their lives to protect and serve.
In total, seven defendants were arrested and extradited from Colombia to the United States to face charges in connection with Special Agent Watson’s murder and the subsequent attempt to cover up the crime. Six defendants pleaded guilty for their respective roles in the kidnapping and murder, and one defendant pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice for cleaning the taxi cab in which the attack occurred.
The sentences handed down to Bello Murillo and Valdes Gualtero bring closure to the case and serve as a warning to those who would commit such heinous crimes. The Grimy Times sends its condolences to the Watson family and the DEA community for their loss.
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