Omar Fabian Valdes Gualtero, Kidnapping & Murder, Virginia 2015

Colombian Nationals Sentenced to 36 and 29 Years in Prison for Kidnapping and Murder of DEA Special Agent

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Omar Fabian Valdes Gualtero, 28, and Edgar Javier Bello Murillo, 28, both Colombian citizens, were sentenced today for their roles in the kidnapping and murder of former Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Special Agent James ‘Terry’ Watson in Bogotá, Colombia, on June 20, 2013.

Gualtero was sentenced to 348 months in prison and five years of supervised release. Murillo was sentenced to 440 months in prison and five years of supervised release.

Attorney General Eric H. Holder said, ‘These two defendants bear responsibility for the kidnapping and murder of a courageous federal agent. With this sentencing, they face justice for their involvement in this brutal crime. Our nation owes a great debt to Special Agent Terry Watson and his loved ones.’

DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart added, ‘Today’s sentencing is another important step in bringing justice to those responsible for the murder of Special Agent Terry Watson.’

Both Gualtero and Murillo previously pleaded guilty to murder of an internationally protected person and conspiracy to kidnap an internationally protected person.

According to the statements of facts filed with their plea agreements, as well as other evidence presented in open court, Gualtero and Murillo admitted that they conspired to conduct ‘paseo milionarios’ or ‘millionaire’s rides’ in which victims in Bogotá, Colombia, were lured into taxi cabs, kidnapped and then robbed. Both admitted that on the evening of June 20, 2013, they were a part of a robbery crew that included five other individuals who targeted Special Agent Watson.

Omar Fabian Valdes Gualtero

Defendant Name: Omar Fabian Valdes Gualtero

Criminal Charges: Murder of an internationally protected person, Conspiracy to kidnap an internationally protected person

City and State: Alexandria, Virginia

Date: April 13, 2015

Sentence: 348 months in prison, five years of supervised release

Héctor Leonardo López

Defendant Name: Héctor Leonardo López

Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to kidnap, Aiding and abetting the murder of an internationally protected person

City and State: Alexandria, Virginia

Date: December 12, 2014

Sentence: 25 years in prison

Julio Estiven Gracia Ramírez

Defendant Name: Julio Estiven Gracia Ramírez

Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to kidnap, Aiding and abetting the murder of an internationally protected person

City and State: Alexandria, Virginia

Date: December 12, 2014

Sentence: 27 years in prison

Andrés Álvaro Oviedo García

Defendant Name: Andrés Álvaro Oviedo García

Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to kidnap, Aiding and abetting the murder of an internationally protected person

City and State: Alexandria, Virginia

Date: December 12, 2014

Sentence: 20 years in prison

Edwin Gerardo Figueroa Sepulveda

Defendant Name: Edwin Gerardo Figueroa Sepulveda

Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to kidnap, Aiding and abetting the murder of an internationally protected person

City and State: Alexandria, Virginia

Date: February 18, 2015

Sentence: 30 years in prison

Edgar Javier Bello Murillo

Defendant Name: Edgar Javier Bello Murillo

Criminal Charges: Murder of an internationally protected person, Conspiracy to kidnap an internationally protected person

City and State: Alexandria, Virginia

Date: April 13, 2015

Sentence: 440 months in prison, five years of supervised release

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