PRESS RELEASE:

Chesapeake, VA --With members of Congress calling for an investigation and mistrial in the cases of imprisoned border agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean due to malfeasance by U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton, yet another Johnny Sutton victim is stepping forward to help expose a dangerous pattern of abuse against border agents.

Following a minor non-incident during an apprehension of about a dozen illegals, border patrol agent Gary Brugman was investigated for 18 months by Sutton’s office and spent two years in prison for violating the illegal’s civil rights. During an interview with Grassfire.org President Steve Elliott -- posted exclusively on FireSociety.com -- Brugman said, “[The U.S. Attorneys] are very, very powerful people. They eat federal agents for breakfast, especially this U.S. Attorney’s office.” To listen to the interview: http://www.firesociety.com/blog/100/ElliottBlog/

What was Brugman’s crime? During an attempt to apprehend 12 illegal aliens, Brugman used his foot to keep two of the illegals from trying to escape. When the apprehended illegals were taken to the border patrol station for processing, one noticed a sign encouraging them to report alleged abuse by a border patrol agent. A complaint was filed which launched an 18-month investigation by Sutton’s team.

In order to have a case, Sutton had to demonstrate “bodily injury.” According to Steve Elliott, “Court documents say the illegal alien ‘felt pain’ at the time of the incident and ‘experienced residual pain for approximately three days after the incident.’ And for this Sutton worked tirelessly to send a Coast Guard veteran and border agent to federal prison.”

Noting that deputy sheriff Gilmer Hernandez also fell victim to Sutton, Elliott says, “It’s time to end Sutton’s pattern of attacking our law enforcement. We are calling for a full investigation of Sutton’s office and a Justice Department review of every Sutton case involving law enforcement.”

For more information about Grassfire.org, or to schedule an interview with Grassfire President Steve Elliott, contact Ron De Jong at 757-487-7900 or email ron@grassfire.org