Gun buyer linked to federal agent's murder to plead guilty

By: Kim Skeen and Sharyl Attkisson
Topics: News

U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement agent Jaime Zapata.

A Dallas County man linked to the murder of ICE Agent Jaime Zapata agreed to plead guilty to weapons violations.

Otilio Osorio, 22, of Lancaster, Texas, agreed to plead guilty in federal court to three counts of a 21-count indictment against him.

Prosecutors say one of three guns found at the scene in Mexico where Agent Zapata was shot to death on February 15 was traced back to Osorio. Investigators believe he was the straw purchaser of the weapon, bought in Texas four months before the murder. As part of an agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Osorio agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to make a false statement in firearms records and possessing a weapons with a removed serial number.

Seven other defendants in the case are also expected to enter guilty pleas. The maximum penalty for each count is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing dates have not yet been scheduled.

As reported by CBS News, Congressional Republicans investigating allegations that the Obama administration allowed thousands of weapons to be trafficked into Mexico have asked for more information about the circumstances surrounding Agent Zapata's death.

More coverage:

Napolitano on ATF Fast and Furious: "We're waiting for the Inspector General"
DOJ: No 3rd gun in "Fast and Furious" murder
Issa to press FBI for "gunwalking" info
Holder subpoenaed for documents in "Gunwalker"
AG Holder responds to critics on Gunwalker

On Wednesday, Rep. Darrell Issa and Senator Charles Grassley wrote a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, questioning how the government handled the investigation of Otilio, his brother Ranferi Osorio and another defendant Kelvin Leon Morrison.

According to a joint statement from the offices of Rep. Issa and Sen. Grassley, "the three straw purchasers were known to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF, long before one of the guns purchased by the brothers was linked to the murder of Agent Zapata."

Records obtained by CBS News show ATF watched as the Osorio brothers and Morrison transferred weapons to a confidential informant on November 9, 2010, but failed to arrest the men. The agency's report documenting that incident was dated February 25th, the same day ATF reportedly received a record tracing the Zapata crime scene gun to Otilio.

The Attorney General has denied knowing that gunwalking was part of an ATF operation that allowed weapons to be smuggled into Mexico. The Justice Department Inspector General has launched an investigation.

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by hearsbothsides October 27, 2011 11:43 PM EDT: I have followed this crime since the GUN SHOP OWNERS in the border states started asking the NICS (FBI) and ATF why they were allowing KNOWN STRAW BUYERS (CRIMINALS)to continue to buy hundreds of Assault type weapons when everyone knew they were not buyingb them for varmit controll but instead delivering them to Mexican Drug Dealers?? They were continually toldx to just go ahead and sell them and that "THEY" the FBI and ATF were following them and making some case. The GUN SHOP OWNERS were worried that later they would be made to look bad for selling thses guns when everyone "KNEW" they were going to be used to kill human being . They were repeatedily told not to worry... The reality is that the present Administration was and is behind the entire program and when the Border Agent was killed that was when the ATF Field Agents said enough is enough and started whisseblowing even though they had all been threatened to keep quite or else and finally when a couple did go to the news media (WHICH FINALLY HAD TO BE FOX NEWS AS OTHERS WOULD NOT GET INVOLVED) The Present Administration had those agents FIRED Yes the whissleblowers were FIRED to set examples to others and NO ONE DOES ANYTHING... Thank God we have got two elected Officials who will not be stonewalled any more by this Administration and they will get to the truth they are Congressman ISSA nad SENATOR GRASSLEY. But until the BIG 3 NEWS AGANCIES GET INVOLVED AND ACTUALLY DO SOME INVESTIGATION REPORING THOSE 2 HEROS TRYING TO SAVE OUR COUNTRY NEED YOUR SUPPORT AND NOW.. Oh ya the last person they tryed to Supenis a couple of weeks ago they were told by this ADMINISTRATION that person was suddenly sent to IRAQ and not available (IF I WAS THAT GUY I WOULD BE WATCHING MY BACK AND IN FACT I WOULD NEVER HAVE GONE). THIS ADMINISTRATION FELT THE END JUSTIFIED THE MEANS...... GREATRER GUN CONTROL WAS WHAT THEY WANTED TO HAPPEN BUT SOME GUNS WER NOT WASHED IN TIME AND NOW THE TRUTH WILL COME OUT IF THEY HAVEN'T COVERED THEIR TRACKS TO WELL AND I SUSPECT THERE WILL BE SOME MORE WHISSLEBLOWER TYPES THAT WILL COME FORWARD IN TIME WITH YOUR HELP YES,"" YOU "" MUST GET INVOLVED TO HELP SAVE OUR COUNTRY AND NOW....DON'T BE SIDETRACKED; Reply to this comment


by rshawk October 27, 2011 5:18 PM EDT: " The agency's report documenting that incident was dated Feb. 25th, the same day the agency traced the Zapata crime scene gun to Otillo". Did the ATF try to cover themselves by writing a report or revising an old report? I would want to know who wrote the report and who instructed them to do so.
I would also want to know if someone made a mistake in the cover up and forget to backdate it. Are reports time-stamped? These confidential informants seem to be everywhere, don't they?; Reply to this comment

by Mokkie57 October 27, 2011 4:03 PM EDT

O.M.G
O = Obama
M = Must
G = Go
As long as Obama is in office Holder and others will not face justice. Vote him out.

Reply to this comment


by bajajohn1 October 27, 2011 4:26 PM EDT: Bush, Cheney and all the others from the corrupt administration did not face justice four outing a covert CIA agent, who lost her job as a result and damaged the network of intelligence providers she developed. Did you ask for justice in that instance? The outing of a CIA agent is an act of treason.


by Arviebird October 27, 2011 7:57 PM EDT: This is ridiculous! This is a separate agency with many kingdom builders aka ATF. Do some studying and find out exactly how things work in the USA. ATF acted on their own and very misguided. If they thought they'd get real intel they were dumb.


by Ole76er October 27, 2011 3:17 PM EDT: I figured they'd find some lowly nobody to take the fall. I'll now bet that Attorney General Eric Holder never resigns or charged for being an accessory to murder; and DHS Janet Napolitano never gives a straight answer as to why it took them 3 months to start an investigation after Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was murdered by Mexicans with weapons bought with taxpayer money.

GOOD coverup by Obama's lackeys.; Reply to this comment

by PR_in_Alabama October 27, 2011 1:38 PM EDT

Congressional Republicans investigating allegations that the Obama administration allowed thousands of weapons to be trafficked into Mexico.

This operation started in 06, where was BUSH?

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by Lifeson2112 October 27, 2011 2:02 PM EDT: It was different under Bush. Look at what was going on then vs now.


by bajajohn1 October 27, 2011 4:27 PM EDT: No Lifeson, gun-trafficking was the same under Bush, whose minions hatched up this ignorant plan.


by rshawk October 27, 2011 1:34 PM EDT: So, Mr. Osorio did a plea deal on 3 counts of the 21 at 5 years per count. Does that mean he will get 15 year max. sentence and not have to go to court for involvement in the murder of Jaime Zapata? I guess there will be more details to follow.; Reply to this comment


by Anotheryahoo October 27, 2011 1:28 PM EDT: ATF should be answering for this one. Ridiculous our govt has become. A bunch of crooks breaking our own laws to create bad guys. A brain dead plan and no one is responsible? no one made this plan up it just appeared all by itself? Someone is to blame for this idiocy who?; Reply to this comment

by wasadem1 October 27, 2011 12:35 PM EDT

Will Holder plead guilty also? After all isn't he at the top of this? Have a nice day

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by greennnnnn-2009 October 27, 2011 1:00 PM EDT: Jeez, what about the ATF and all others involved? Oh, yeah, they got transfers. All taken care of. What a huge load of B.S. Prosecute and imprison ALL involved, not just these dudes.

by stevex47 October 27, 2011 12:30 PM EDT

Oh the tea birthers are trying to drum up anything possible on Obama having failed miserably with the birth certificate fiasco.

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by Lifeson2112 October 27, 2011 2:01 PM EDT: So I guess the government breaking laws is okay with you then as long as your party has the presidency?