Dominican extraditables get sweeter deals from Washington

Santo Domingo.- Ernesto Bienvenido Guevara Diaz (Maconi), extradited in 2009 in connection with drug kingpin Quirino Paulino’s powerful ring, is already free and returned to the Dominican Republic on Wednesday, after serving five years in a U.S prison.

Guevara is part of a group of 76 Dominican ex-convicts repatriated yesterday who served time in various US prisons for drug trafficking, murder, bank fraud and other federal offenses.

Considered then Paulino’s right hand, Guevara was extradited in 2009 after a ruling by the Supreme Court which didn’t confiscate his assets.

According to outlet eldia.co.do, Guevara can claim: "I’m alive, on the loose, with dough and without any problems" with Dominican Justice.

Revolving door

“With him the story of other drug traffickers arrested by Dominican authorities and are then sought in extradition by the United States repeats itself,” the outlet reports.

To expedite the extradition process, it’s normal that Dominican authorities yield to pressure from Washington and dismiss any allegation in the country.

Guevara’s case is similar to those of Paulino, who despite facing a as long as 30 years in the Dominican Republic, served only eight in the U.S., whereas Antonio del Rosario Puente (Toño Leña) was sentenced in Puerto Rico to six years in prison, but served only two years. He’s expected to demand the return of assets including villas, farms and numerous pieces of heavy equipment worth millions of dollars.

On more than one occasion, Justice Ministry Anti-Money Laundering Unit director German Miranda has called for the confiscation of convicts’ properties in the country, to avert having to return their fortunes once they come back.