Guilty Plea in Border Patrolman’s Murder

SAN DIEGO (CN) - A fourth man admitted his involvement in the 2009 murder of a Border Patrol agent, federal prosecutors said.

Marcos Rodríguez Perez, 28, of Mexico, admitted on Wednesday that he was one of three gunmen who lured Robert Rosas Jr. into a trap to steal his night-vision goggles, and then shot him to death in a struggle, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Rodríguez Perez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery and kidnapping, robbery, and using a firearm during a crime of violence. His plea agreement calls for a sentence of 58 years in prison, the U.S. attorney said in a statement.

According to U.S. attorney's statement: "Rodríguez-Perez admitted that on July 23, 2009, he and four others - Jose Juan Chacon-Morales, Jose Luis Ramirez-Dorantes, Christian Daniel Castro Alvarez, and Emilio Samyn Gonzales-Arenazas - traveled by car and foot to a remote area on the Mexican side of the U.S.-Mexico border near Campo, California. All five were carrying firearms and, once at the border, entered into an agreement to rob a U.S. Border Patrol agent of his night vision device.

"As Agent Rosas, in uniform and performing his official duties, responded to the area, the defendant entered the U.S. with Castro-Alvarez and Gonzales-Arenazas through a hole in the border fence, while Chacon-Morales and Ramirez-Dorantes remained in Mexico and stood watch. After Agent Rosas exited his vehicle, the defendant, Castro-Alvarez, and Gonzales-Arenazas detained Agent Rosas at gunpoint.

"Agent Rosas resisted, and during the ensuing struggle, the defendant, Castro-Alvarez and Gonzales-Arenazas fired multiple shots at Agent Rosas, killing him. The three men 'stole Agent Rosas's bag, firearm, handcuffs, and night vision device, among other things ... and fled back to Mexico,' the plea agreement said. They rejoined Chacon-Morales and Ramirez-Dorantes, and all five fled the area."

Castro Alvarez pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison.

Gonzales Arenazas and Ramirez Dorantes will be sentenced in November.

Chacon Morales is a fugitive.

Rodríguez Perez will be sentenced on Nov. 14.

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