Several Colombian nationals sentenced in plot to murder American soldiers!
At a Glance
- Colombian nationals sentenced to 35 and 30 years in prison
- Convicted for plotting to detonate a car bomb targeting U.S. soldiers
- Attack injured three U.S. soldiers and 44 Colombian personnel
- Defendants collaborated with extremist faction of FARC
Colombian Nationals Sentenced for Plot to Murder American Soldiers
Colombian nationals Andres Fernando Medina Rodriguez and Ciro Alfonso Gutierrez Ballesteros were sentenced to 35 and 30 years in prison, respectively, for their roles in plotting to murder American soldiers. These men were convicted for conspiring to detonate a car bomb outside a military base near the Colombia-Venezuela border, targeting American troops stationed there.
The attack, which took place on June 15, 2021, was aimed at American troops stationed at the Colombian 30th Army Brigade Base in Cúcuta, Colombia. Medina Rodriguez leveraged his status as a medically discharged Colombian army officer to gain access and conduct surveillance of the base, enabling the subsequent bombing.
Details of the Bombing Incident
Ten days before the attack, the defendants delivered an SUV loaded with an improvised explosive device to their co-conspirators. On the day of the incident, Medina Rodriguez drove the bomb-laden SUV to the base, activated the bomb’s timer, and fled the scene alongside Gutierrez Ballesteros. The explosion injured three U.S. Army soldiers and 44 Colombian military personnel.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida emphasized the importance of accountability in such heinous acts against American soldiers: “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.”
Justice Delivered
The defendants worked closely with the 33rd Front, an extremist faction of FARC, aiming to escalate the attack’s impact. The FBI, together with the Department of Defense, Fiscalía General de la Nación de Colombia, and Colombian National Police, thoroughly investigated the case, leading to the men’s arrest and extradition.
“Crime doesn’t stop at our borders, and neither does the FBI’s commitment to investigate criminal acts against our military overseas,” remarked Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI’s Miami Field Office.
International Cooperation and Firm Sentences
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 pivotal roles in facilitating the defendants’ arrest and extradition. The sentences underscore the United States’ commitment to safeguarding its military personnel and ensuring justice for those who target American soldiers, irrespective of location or complexity.
