Colombian paramilitary member appears in US court
HOUSTON - A member of a right-wing paramilitary group who was extradited from Colombia made his first appearance in Houston federal court Friday on a charge he participated in a $25 million arms-for-cocaine deal.
Diego Alberto Ruiz Arroyave was one of 14 right-wing paramilitaries nabbed in a surprise pre-dawn operation this week and brought to the United States to face charges of supporting a terrorist organization and drug trafficking. Many of the others made their court appearances earlier in New York, Washington, Miami and Tampa, Fla.
During a brief court hearing, Ruiz appeared before a federal magistrate judge on a charge of conspiring to provide material support and resources to the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, known by its Spanish initials, AUC. The U.S. has listed the group a terrorist organization.
A federal magistrate judge scheduled a bond hearing for Ruiz for May 23.
Prosecutor Jeff Vaden said in court that the federal government believes Ruiz is a flight risk and should be denied bail.
Ruiz's attorney, Erik Sunde, declined to comment after the hearing.
The charge stems from an indictment by a federal grand jury in Houston that accuses Ruiz of participating in a scheme to acquire Russian and Eastern European-made weapons for the AUC in exchange for cocaine. The weapons included shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, rocket propelled grenade launchers and AK-47 assault weapons. The AUC never got any weapons.
Ruiz was one of six men who participated in the plot, the indictment said.......
Diego Alberto Ruiz Arroyave was one of 14 right-wing paramilitaries nabbed in a surprise pre-dawn operation this week and brought to the United States to face charges of supporting a terrorist organization and drug trafficking. Many of the others made their court appearances earlier in New York, Washington, Miami and Tampa, Fla.
During a brief court hearing, Ruiz appeared before a federal magistrate judge on a charge of conspiring to provide material support and resources to the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, known by its Spanish initials, AUC. The U.S. has listed the group a terrorist organization.
A federal magistrate judge scheduled a bond hearing for Ruiz for May 23.
Prosecutor Jeff Vaden said in court that the federal government believes Ruiz is a flight risk and should be denied bail.
Ruiz's attorney, Erik Sunde, declined to comment after the hearing.
The charge stems from an indictment by a federal grand jury in Houston that accuses Ruiz of participating in a scheme to acquire Russian and Eastern European-made weapons for the AUC in exchange for cocaine. The weapons included shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, rocket propelled grenade launchers and AK-47 assault weapons. The AUC never got any weapons.
Ruiz was one of six men who participated in the plot, the indictment said.......
posted by See You On The Other Side at 10:55 AM
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