DOMINICAN FUGITIVE JOSE HINOJOSA EXTRADITED TO THE

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 001713 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAR ROSHOLT, L/LEI FOR TORRES AND MUELLER DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR CRIM/OIA ORJALES AND ESTABROOK US MARSHALS SERVICE PLEASE PASS TO JIM SCHIELD DEA FOR OF,OFI,DO,DCO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CJAN CVIS KCRM SNAR DR SUBJECT: DOMINICAN FUGITIVE JOSE HINOJOSA EXTRADITED TO THE UNITED STATES REF: 2006 STATE 181294 ¶1. On July 15, 2007, U.S. Marshals returned Jose Ramon Hinojosa Santos to the United States to stand trial in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 or more kilograms of cocaine (2 counts under 21 USC 841(a)(1) and 846),conspiracy to distribute 5 or more kilograms of cocaine that originated outside the United States (21 USC 963 and 959(a)),and conspiracy to import 5 or more kilograms of cocaine (21 USC 952(a) and 963). As detailed in indictment number CR 06-470 (RJD),filed on July 18, 2006, Hinojosa was head of an organization that used couriers to transport cocaine from the Dominican Republic to the United States and Europe. ¶2. This case was brought before the Dominican government on November 3, 2006, by virtue of an Embassy diplomatic note. Shortly afterward, on November 26, the Criminal Chamber of the Dominican Supreme Court issued a provisional arrest warrant based on the USG request for extradition. On February 14, 2007, Hinojosa was apprehended by officers of the Dominican Republic's National Directorate for Drug Control's fugitive apprehension unit pursuant to that warrant. ¶3. Hinojosa properly challenged his extradition before the Criminal Chamber of the Dominican Supreme Court in early April 2007, though repeated absences by defense council delayed Hinojosa's final hearing until mid-May 2007. The Criminal Chamber ultimately upheld his extradition in a decision published on June 20, 2007, approximately 2 weeks after Hinojosa staged an unsuccessful escape attempt from his prison cell. (He had cut through two of the cell's bars, muffling the noise with a bar of soap). ¶4. Hinojosa's extradition was confirmed proper by Presidential Decree 349-07, signed July 3, 2007. ¶5. The return of Hinojosa marks the 14th Dominican-national fugitive returned through or in lieu of extradition proceedings during CY-2007 (the 23rd for FY-2007). BULLEN