DOMINICAN FUGITIVE JEANNETTE MERCEDES WAIVES

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 004673

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CJAN DR KCRM SNAR
SUBJECT: DOMINICAN FUGITIVE JEANNETTE MERCEDES WAIVES
EXTRADITION RIGHTS, RETURNS TO U.S.



1. On October 14, 2005, U.S. Marshals returned Jeannette
Mercedes to the United States for trial in the US District
Court for the Southern District of New York based on federal
indictment 03-CR 1030 (SHS) charging her with conspiracy to
commit money laundering. Mercedes is alleged to have entered
into a conspiracy whose primary purpose was to launder
proceeds from the sale of narcotics in New York City.


2. Following the issuance of a Dominican arrest warrant based
on a USG request for extradition, Mercedes was apprehended on
August 10, 2005 by officers of the Dominican National
Directorate for Drug Control. Mercedes subsequently made a
free, knowing, and voluntary waiver of further local
proceedings before the Criminal Chamber of the Dominican
Supreme Court. Her decision to submit to US extradition was
evidenced by a witnessed affidavit executed on September 27,

2005.


2. (U) Mercedes is the 39th fugitive extradited to the United
States during the second administration of President Leonel
Fernandez. She is the 26th fugitive extradited from the
Dominican Republic to the United States in 2005.
BRINEMAN