United States v. Xtradition of Risner, 3:18-mj-765-BN

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. IN THE MATTER OF THE EXTRADITION OF TITO JAY RISNERA/K/A JAY MICHAEL RISNER A/K/A TITO RISNERA/K/A JAY M. RISNER A/K/A JOSE TITO RODRIGUEZ CALDERON.

No. 3:18-mj-765-BN

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS DALLAS DIVISION

November 18, 2019

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

Applicable Background

On November 16, 2018, the United States of America filed a complaint for the extradition of Tito Jay Risner a/k/a Jay Michael Risner a/k/a Tito Risner a/k/a Jay M. Risner a/k/a Jose Tito Rodriguez Calderon ("Risner") at the request of the Government of the Republic of Colombia ("Colombia") pursuant to the extradition treaty between the United States and Colombia, the Extradition Treaty with the Republic of Colombia, U.S.-Colom., Sept. 14, 1979, S. TREATY DOC. NO. 97-8 (1981) (the "Treaty"), available at 1979 U.S.T. LEXIS 199. The United States seeks Mr. Risner's extradition in accordance with its treaty obligations to Colombia, see Dkt. No. 1, and moved to detain Mr. Risner following his arrest on a warrant [Dkt. No. 22] issued in connection with the United States's complaint filed under 18 U.S.C. § 3184, see Dkt. Nos. 5 & 14.

Mr. Risner, through his retained counsel, filed a Motion to Dismiss, see Dkt. No. 23, asserting that, "[i]n this extradition request, Colombia has failed to follow extradition procedures and provide all required documents pursuant to Article 9 of the Extradition Treaty with the Republic of Colombia, U.S.-Colom., Sept. 14, 1979, S. TREATY DOC. NO. 97-8 (1981) ('Treaty')," and that "Colombia is in violation of the terms of the treaty, therefore this matter must be dismissed," id. at 1.

The United States then filed a Notice of Filing of Supplement to Extradition Request, see Dkt. No. 26, in which it explained:

On November 16, 2018, Tito Risner a/k/a Jay Risner a/k/a Jose Tito Rodriguez Calderon ("Risner," "Rodriguez Calderon," or the "fugitive") was arrested on the basis of a complaint seeking his extradition to the Republic of Colombia ("Colombia") to serve a sentence for aggravated homicide. Attached to the filed complaint was the original Extradition Request submitted by the Government of Columbia (ECF No. 1-1).

On February 23, 2018, the United States sent a diplomatic note to Columbia requesting that the Government of Columbia submit a certified supplement to the original extradition package from Columbia. In this diplomatic note, the United States requested that Columbia submit a Supplement which provides a text of the applicable Columbian laws describing the essential elements and designation of the offenses for which extradition is requested, and describing the time limit on the prosecution of the execution of punishment for the offenses as required by Articles 9(2) and 9(5) of the Extradition Treaty between the United States and the Republic of Columbia.

Attached hereto as Exhibit A is the certified Supplement (dated July 23, 2018) with Spanish and English translations which was provided to the United States by the Government of Columbia. This Supplement to the original Extradition Request is admissible at the extradition hearing pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3190.

Id. at 1-2.

The United States then filed the Government's Response in Opposition to Fugitive's Motion to Dismiss Complaint, see Dkt. No. 36, and a Notice of Filing - Supplemental Document, see Dkt. No. 37, in which it explained that

[a]ttached hereto is a diplomatic note from the Government of Colombia,dated January 3, 2019, to the Government of the United States, explaining that the fugitive's arrest in the United States on November 16, 2018, interrupted the Colombian limitations period, which otherwise was set to expire on November 23, 2018.

Id. at 1 (footnote omitted). The United States also noted that, "[i]n providing this information, neither government concedes that the Treaty required the Government of Colombia to submit it." Id. at 1 n.1.

Mr. Risner then filed his Relator's Reply to Government's Response to Motion to Dismiss, see Dkt. No. 38, and Supplement to Relator's Reply to Government's Response to Motion to Dismiss, see Dkt. No. 42.

The undersigned United States magistrate judge is authorized to conduct the proceedings in this matter under 18 U.S.C. § 3184 and 28 U.S.C. § 636. See Noel v. U.S., 12 F. Supp. 2d 1300, 1305 (M.D. Fla. 1998); see generally Ntakirutimana v. Reno, 184 F.3d 419, 423 n.8 (5th Cir. 1999) ("The judicial officer, whether state or federal, who is authorized to hold an extradition hearing pursuant to the terms of 18 U.S.C. § 3184 is often referred to as a 'magistrate' or as the 'committing court.'").

The Court denied Mr. Risner's Motion to Dismiss [Dkt. No. 23], see Dkt. No. 55, and, after pre-hearing briefing, see Dkt. Nos. 62, 63, 66, 68, 69, 70, & 71; see also Dkt. No. 75 (post-hearing supplemental filing), held the extradition hearing under 18 U.S.C. § 3184 on July 31, 2019, see Dkt. Nos. 72, 74, & 75.

As further background, the United States asserts that,

[a]ccording to information the Government of Colombia has provided:

On December 9, 1994, the Colombian Criminal Court Six, Circuit of Cartagena, found the fugitive guilty of the aggravated homicide of his wife, Patricia Gomez de Risner (the "victim" or "Risner's wife"), inviolation of Article 323 of Colombia's Criminal Code, and sentenced him to twenty years imprisonment. The conviction was affirmed on appeal, first by the Superior Tribunal of the Judicial District of Cartagena on April 20, 1995, and then by the Supreme Court of Justice, Criminal Cassation Division, on November 23, 1998. The extradition request from the Government of Colombia contains supporting documentation including the aforementioned Colombian court decisions, which reflect the following:

a. The victim was Risner's wife. She was born in Colombia, and lived in Texas.

b. In early July, 1990, the victim and Risner were visiting Cartagena, Colombia. On July 4, 1990, the victim was shot fatally while walking with her sister and mother.

c. Colombian police officers arrested Raul Alberto Ramirez Montoya (Ramirez Montoya) and Yolanda Zuluaga Velez (Zuluaga Velez) at the scene. The two were implicated in the homicide through questioning and were convicted of the murder.

d. Hotel and other records reflected that the Risners arrived at the Hotel Bellavista in Cartagena three days before the murder, on July 1, 1990. Risner's co-defendant and relative, Jairo Hernandez Pachon ("Hernandez Pachon"), arrived at the same hotel on the same date, and shared a room with Ramirez Montoya and Zuluaga Velez, adjacent to the room that Risner and his wife occupied. [In the same proceeding as Risner, the court convicted Hernandez Pachon of being an accomplice to the aggravated homicide and sentenced Hernandez Pachon to ten years imprisonment.] Hernandez Pachon also paid Ramirez Montoya and Zuluaga Velez's hotel bill. Given their proximity to the victim while she was a guest at the hotel, Ramirez Montoya and Zuluaga Velez had opportunities to become aware of the victim's identity and appearance. Further, a Colombian police agent testified that he had obtained confidential information that when Risner and his wife were walking on the beach, Risner "made signs" to hire Hernandez Pachon and his companions.

e. Risner was the beneficiary of at least five policies insuring the victim's life for a total value of approximately USD $1.73 million in the 1990s. Some, if not all, of the insurance companies investigated the victim's death and had declined to pay the proceeds to Rodriguez Calderon, prompting Risner to sue them in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas. See Risner v. Amex Life Assur. Co., No. Civ. A No. 3-91-1646, 1993 WL 55957, at *1 (N.D. Tex. Jan. 19, 1993) (noting that Tito Risner was the designated beneficiary of several life insurance policies on the victim's life and had tried to collect against seven insurance companies). The Colombian court had before it theresults of said investigation. The court found that Risner had purchased an abnormal number of policies on the victim's life, in an abnormal amount, considering that the victim worked as a nurse and was not exposed to sufficient risk to justify such coverage. The court also noted that the policies exceeded the couple's economic capacity. [On approximately January 16, 1991, plaintiff Tito Jay Risner also appears to have filed suit against the Estate of Patricia Gomez Risner in Dallas County Probate Court (Case No. PR-91-00180-1).]

f. According to the victim's sister, during the afternoon of the shooting, Risner continuously passed from one side to the other of the hotel windows, from which he could see the street and watch the shooting occur.

g. Following the murder, Colombian law enforcement interviewed Risner, who asserted that his wife's death should not be investigated. Colombian authorities who conducted the interview also reported that Risner seemed defensive and told them he did not know why they were taking his statement. [In its decision, the Colombian court listed the evidence before it, including an "Affidavit of Tito Risner."] Crediting testimony from a police agent who testified based on observing Risner and fifteen years of professional experience, the court found that Risner exhibited a strange and cunning attitude at the interview.

h. According to the victim's family, the fugitive told them to do nothing regarding the investigation because there was no point to it.

i. Risner departed Colombia abruptly on July 6, 1990, the day after the victim's burial.

j. Ramirez Montoya, who ultimately was convicted of the murder, made statements to police in an effort to prove his own innocence. For example, Ramirez Montoya stated that the victim's husband was outside of and opposite the hotel where the shooting occurred and described the clothes the victim's husband was wearing. The Colombian court found that a prior familiarity and criminal link existed between Ramirez Montoya and

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