Everything indicates that extradited FARC commander Gerardo Aguilar Ramirez alias “Cesar” and his wife Nancy Conde Rubio alias “Doris Adriana” are serving prison sentences in the United States, contrary to media reports that said the guerrilla captor had gone “off the radar.”
A search on the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ website shows no result of the guerrilla using his full name Gerardo Aguilar Ramirez or his first last name, but does confirm the incarceration of a Gerardo Ramirez.
Everything indicates that Aguilar Ramirez was not registered under his first or full last name, but that the prison authority used only his second last name.
According to BOP Public Affairs Specialist Chris Burke, inmate Ramirez is serving a 324-month sentence in the United States Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois for conspiracy to traffic narcotics, which coincides with the sentence of Aguilar. Burke also confirmed Ramirez was sentenced on July 22, 2010, the same date that Aguilar Ramirez was sentenced.
Ramirez’s release date is set for January 16, 2032 citing good behavior. He has been given 743 days credit for time served.
Cesar’s wife, Nancy Conde Rubio, was confirmed to be serving a 138-month sentence for providing material support to a foreign terrorist group. She is serving her sentence at the Federal Correctional Institute in Dublin, California.
Reports made earlier Tuesday said that media were unable to confirm the two former FARC members were incarcerated in the U.S. This came after the Sunday release of a 2008 WikiLeaks cable that indicated Ramirez tried to negotiate the release of his hostage Ingrid Betancourt in exchange for the Colombian government’s release of his wife and the allowance of he and his family to flee to France.
Defense Minister Rodrigo Rivera said Tuesday, “Alias ‘Cesar’ is extradited and I don’t have reason to think he is doing anything other than paying a penalty in the United States, or that his family is protected in another country,” reported Caracol Radio.
Ramirez was arrested on July 2, 2008 when the Colombian army freed former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt in the military operation named “Operation Checkmate.” Ramirez’s wife had been in the custody of Colombian authorities months before.