THREE DOMINICANS WAIVE EXTRADITION RIGHTS, RETURN

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 003230

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAR (MCISAAC) AND L/LEI (TAYLOR, FUENTES
AND MUELLER)
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR CRIM/OIA (ORJALES)
US MARSHAL SERVICE PLEASE PASS TO CHRIS DUDLEY
DEA FOR OF, OFI, DO AND DCO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CJAN CVIS SNAR DR
SUBJECT: THREE DOMINICANS WAIVE EXTRADITION RIGHTS, RETURN
TO THE U.S.

REF: A. STATE 91579

B. STATE 91598

C. STATE 95607


1. (U) On June 16, 2005, three fugitives were returned to
the United States in the company of U.S. Marshals. Jose Abel
Burdiez de Leon is wanted to stand trial in the U.S. District
Court for the Southern District of New York on conspiracy to
launder money derived from unlawful activity (narcotics
trafficking) charges, ref A; Richard Mejia Pena is wanted in
the same jurisdiction on the same charges, ref B; and Carlos
Villavizar Guzman is wanted to stand trial in the U.S.
District Court for the Southern District of New York on
federal narcotics charges, ref C.


2. (U) Burdiez de Leon and Villavizar Guzman were arrested
by the Dominican National Directorate for Drug Control (DNCD)
on arrest warrants issued pursuant to USG requests for
extradition. Mejia Pena surrendered voluntarily to DNCD
agents upon learning of the arrest warrant issued against
him. All three fugitives waived their rights to extradition
hearings in front of the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme
Court and executed witnessed, notarized affidavits indicating
their desire to return voluntarily to the United States.


3. (U) The return of these three men mark the 28th through
31st fugitives subject to extradition who have been returned
to the United States during the second administration of
President Leonel Fernandez. They are the 15th - 17th
fugitives returned from the Dominican Republic to the United
States in 2005.
Hertell