- House of Death
The House of Death refers to a serial killing site in the Mexican city of
Ciudad Juárez ,Chihuahua , where executions were committed by members of theJuárez Cartel , some with the knowledge and participation of aUnited States undercover informant known by the pseudonym "Lalo", who had infiltrated the cartel. According to policy of theUnited States Department of Justice , undercover informants are not permitted to participate in acts of violence.Guillermo Eduardo Ramírez Peyro, AKA "Lalo", was a former Mexican Highway Patrol officer and a paid informant of
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which is part of theDepartment of Homeland Security . "Lalo" also reported to the DEA. After infiltrating theJuárez Cartel , cite web |url=http://www.star-telegram.com/national_news/story/108624.html| title=Questions linger about the "House of Death" |author=Dave Montgomery |date=2007-05-20|accessdate=2007-05-24] he worked with Heriberto Santillán Tabares and helped him murder people in Mexico. "Lalo" had foreknowledge of planned killings and claims that he informed his US handlers of the intended crimes.cite web| url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1962643,00.html | title=The House of Death| author=The Observer | date=12/3/2006 ] It has been asserted that US officials, includingJohnny Sutton , theUnited States Attorney ofUnited States District Court for the Western District of Texas , were aware of the murderous activities of the informant, but failed to intervene. [cite web|url=http://www.narconews.com/Issue38/article1374.html| title=Ex-DEA El Paso Chief Slams U.S. AttorneyJohnny Sutton Over “Murders Gov’t Could Have Prevented”| author=Bill Conroy| date=2005] Juanita Fielden, Assistant US Attorney, is a defendant in a law suit forwrongful death brought forward by families of victims of the "House of Death".Torture and executions of suspected rivals and suspected informants took place until January
2004 . Once the Mexican government became aware of the activities, amass grave containing at least twelve bodies was found in a house on 3633 Calle Parsonieros, Ciudad Juárez, which came to be dubbed the "House of Death." Santillán was convicted of trafficking byJohnny Sutton , but in aplea bargaining agreement, he was not accused of murder, and "Lalo", the former informant for the US government, now sits in a high-security prison awaiting extradition to Mexico, which will be according to him tantamount to a death sentence. "Lalo" also claims that the United States Government still owes him money.Subsequent to the publication of the "House of Death" story, the investigative journalist of
Narco News , Bill Conroy, received intimidating visits at his office, his home, and to his employer from officers of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, an event that prompted a letter by CongresswomanCynthia McKinney reprimandingJohnny Sutton for "an attempt ... to intimidate a journalist who has reported facts that are embarrassing to him". [ [http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/070705_mckinney_sutton.shtml Letter of Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney] ]References
See also
*
War on drugs
*Vicente Carrillo Fuentes
*Mexican drug war External links
* [http://www.narconews.com/houseofdeath House of Death Article Collection]
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