Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BOGOTA3254
2009-10-15 23:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:
EXTRADITION APPROVED FOR PYRAMID SCHEME MASTERMIND
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHBO #3254 2882303 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 152302Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0361 INFO RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0093 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0416 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ NOV LIMA 0437 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA 0429
UNCLAS BOGOTA 003254
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SNAR KJUS KCRM EFIN CO
SUBJECT: EXTRADITION APPROVED FOR PYRAMID SCHEME MASTERMIND
SUMMARY
-------
UNCLAS BOGOTA 003254
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SNAR KJUS KCRM EFIN CO
SUBJECT: EXTRADITION APPROVED FOR PYRAMID SCHEME MASTERMIND
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (SBU) On October 14, the Colombian Supreme Court approved the
extradition of David Murcia Guzman, head of the Colombian financial
services firm DMG and the prime suspect in one of the largest
pyramid schemes in Colombia. The ruling comes a month after the
Court denied the U.S. extradition request for Murcia's associate,
Daniel Angel Rueda, finding it was in violation of the principle of
double jeopardy. Murcia, charged with money laundering in the
United States, is expected to be extradited in late November or
early December. Four other DMG associates requested for
extradition for the same charges are awaiting Court action. End
Summary.
DMG EXTRADITION APPROVED
--------------
2. (SBU) On October 14, the Colombian Supreme Court approved the
extradition of David Murcia Guzman for money laundering charges.
According to Edmundo del Castillo, legal advisor to President
Uribe, the Executive will give final approval to Murcia's
extradition, but may add a caveat that any assets recovered go to
the Colombian victims of the pyramid scheme. Assuming there is no
appeal, Murcia is expected to be extradited to the United States in
late November or early December.
KEY TO DECISION ON DOUBLE JEOPARDY IS DATE OF SENTENCING
-------------- --------------
3. (SBU) On September 9, the Supreme Court ruled against the
extradition of Daniel Angel Rueda, a DMG associate, finding it
would violate the principle of double jeopardy. (Note: The
Colombian Supreme Court has invoked the double jeopardy argument
when an individual is convicted and sentenced in Colombia prior to
the submission of the U.S. provisional arrest request. End Note.)
Rueda's extradition was solicited at the same time as Murcia and
both had criminal cases against them in Colombia. However, unlike
Murcia, Rueda accepted the charges against him, speeding up the
sentencing process. By the time the Embassy submitted a
provisional arrest request, Rueda had been convicted and sentenced
to four years and five months in prison.
4. (SBU) The Colombian Supreme Court has yet to rule on the
extradition requests for four other DMG associates charged with
money laundering. One of those requests may be denied, we
understand from the Prosecutor General's Office, because the
defendant, like Rueda, quickly pled guilty to the Colombian
charges.
NICHOLS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SNAR KJUS KCRM EFIN CO
SUBJECT: EXTRADITION APPROVED FOR PYRAMID SCHEME MASTERMIND
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (SBU) On October 14, the Colombian Supreme Court approved the
extradition of David Murcia Guzman, head of the Colombian financial
services firm DMG and the prime suspect in one of the largest
pyramid schemes in Colombia. The ruling comes a month after the
Court denied the U.S. extradition request for Murcia's associate,
Daniel Angel Rueda, finding it was in violation of the principle of
double jeopardy. Murcia, charged with money laundering in the
United States, is expected to be extradited in late November or
early December. Four other DMG associates requested for
extradition for the same charges are awaiting Court action. End
Summary.
DMG EXTRADITION APPROVED
--------------
2. (SBU) On October 14, the Colombian Supreme Court approved the
extradition of David Murcia Guzman for money laundering charges.
According to Edmundo del Castillo, legal advisor to President
Uribe, the Executive will give final approval to Murcia's
extradition, but may add a caveat that any assets recovered go to
the Colombian victims of the pyramid scheme. Assuming there is no
appeal, Murcia is expected to be extradited to the United States in
late November or early December.
KEY TO DECISION ON DOUBLE JEOPARDY IS DATE OF SENTENCING
-------------- --------------
3. (SBU) On September 9, the Supreme Court ruled against the
extradition of Daniel Angel Rueda, a DMG associate, finding it
would violate the principle of double jeopardy. (Note: The
Colombian Supreme Court has invoked the double jeopardy argument
when an individual is convicted and sentenced in Colombia prior to
the submission of the U.S. provisional arrest request. End Note.)
Rueda's extradition was solicited at the same time as Murcia and
both had criminal cases against them in Colombia. However, unlike
Murcia, Rueda accepted the charges against him, speeding up the
sentencing process. By the time the Embassy submitted a
provisional arrest request, Rueda had been convicted and sentenced
to four years and five months in prison.
4. (SBU) The Colombian Supreme Court has yet to rule on the
extradition requests for four other DMG associates charged with
money laundering. One of those requests may be denied, we
understand from the Prosecutor General's Office, because the
defendant, like Rueda, quickly pled guilty to the Colombian
charges.
NICHOLS