A group of Colombian citizens has been sentenced to imprisonment for their participation in a grisly plan to assassinate American soldiers.
At a Glance
- Colombian nationals Rodriguez and Ballesteros were sentenced to 35 and 30 years in prison.
- The plot involved detonating a car bomb outside a military base near Colombia-Venezuela border.
- The explosion injured three U.S. soldiers and 44 Colombian military personnel.
- Medina Rodriguez used his military status to gain access and conduct surveillance.
- They collaborated with the 33rd Front, an extremist faction of FARC.
Colombian Citizens Sentenced for Plot to Assassinate American Soldiers
Colombian nationals Andres Fernando Medina Rodriguez and Ciro Alfonso Gutierrez Ballesteros have been sentenced to 35 and 30 years in prison, respectively, for conspiring and attempting to murder U.S. soldiers. They plotted to detonate a car bomb outside the Colombian 30th Army Brigade Base in Cúcuta, near the Colombia-Venezuela border. They planned the attack meticulously, which led to a significant security breach and raised international concerns.
Their extensive planning involved delivering a bomb-laden SUV to co-conspirators ten days before the attack. Rodriguez activated the bomb’s timer and fled the scene with Ballesteros. Their actions resulted in injuries to three U.S. Army soldiers and 44 Colombian military personnel. The defendants collaborated with the 33rd Front, an extremist faction of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), to target the American troops.
Medina Rodriguez exploited his status as a medically discharged Colombian army officer to gain access to the base and conducted surveillance. This dastardly act underscores the constant threats that our military personnel face both domestically and internationally. The plot’s disruption came after a thorough investigation involving multiple agencies, including the FBI, the Department of Defense, and the Colombian National Police.
Colombian nationals sentenced to prison for plot to murder American soldiers https://t.co/U9mhP6w7OU
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Investigation and Arrest
The FBI, Department of Defense, Fiscalía General de la Nación de Colombia, and Colombian National Police led the investigation. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of the Judicial Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá played crucial roles in facilitating the defendants’ arrest and extradition. The charges, including conspiracy to murder U.S. military personnel and attempted murder of U.S. soldiers, were part of a five-count terrorism-related indictment filed in 2022.
“Our most urgent mission and highest priority is to hold those accountable who target Americans, to include the brave men and women who serve as members of our uniformed services domestically and around the world,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida.
The Colombian nationals pled guilty to conspiring and attempting to murder members of the First Security Assistance Brigade. Gutierrez Ballesteros instructed Medina Rodriguez to find a vehicle for the attack and provided the money to buy a white SUV. This vehicle was outfitted with explosives in Venezuela before being used in the gruesome attack. They attempted to evade capture by fleeing to Venezuela but were tracked down and arrested in Colombia as part of an international manhunt.
Global Cooperation
U.S. authorities collaborated with the Colombian government to bring the perpetrators to justice. The Justice Department emphasized a broader effort to ensure justice for anyone targeting American soldiers, regardless of location or complexity. FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri remarked, “Crime doesn’t stop at our borders, and neither does the FBI’s commitment to investigate criminal acts against our military overseas.”
He also stated “As seen by the prison sentences imposed upon defendants Medina Rodriguez and Gutierrez Ballesteros today, individuals who threaten the safety and security of the United States and our fellow Americans will face the full force of our nation’s criminal justice system.”
This case highlights the international perils faced by military forces and serves as a stern warning to those who dare threaten their safety. It also underscores the importance of international cooperation in security matters, proving that the judicial system remains resolute in tackling such extreme breaches of security.
