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Peruvian citizen sentenced to prison in U.S. for aiding Al Qaeda
Carlos Alberto Arteaga Tapia (right) during his time in the Peruvian army (Photo: La Republica)
By Manuel Vigo
June 13, 2012
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A Peruvian family is asking for assistance for their son, who has been sentenced to prison for aiding Al Qaeda.
In October 2010 a Florida court sentenced 35-year old Carlos Alberto Arteaga Tapia to 11 years in prison, for conspiring to “provide material resources and support to Al Qaeda,” and manufacturing and distributing cocaine.
Arteaga’s mother, Julia Tapia Luna, said he traveled to Panama in March 2010 looking for work. Arteaga says he was offered a job in the U.S., while he was in Panama, and was arrested once he arrived in the country, La Republica reported.
"It's unfair what is happening with my son, Carlos is not a terrorist or drug dealer, he is a father who traveled abroad in search of economic improvement,” his mother said.
According to court documents, Arteaga pleaded guilty to both counts in October 2010, but later withdrew his guilty plea, arguing he “had pled guilty solely to get out of solitary confinement.”
Arteaga’s father said that in one of his son’s last phone calls, he claimed he had been a victim of the United States’ intelligence service, and said they were using him as a scapegoat, La Republica said.
Arteaga’s family said they’ve asked the Peruvian embassy in the U.S. for help.
“He also asked us to vote for Ollanta Humala, because maybe he could help us,” Arteaga’s father said.
Arteaga served in Peru’s military in 1992, where he was a second sergeant at the same time Ollanta Humala was serving as an army captain.
“He fought in our country along with President Ollanta Humala against subversion," his mother said.
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COMMENTS:
Total coments: 2
Commented By: JIMMYJAMES
On: June 13, 2012. 8:17 pm
I GET THE FACT THAT HE WANTS TO CHANGE HIS PLEA BUT THERE IS NO MENTION AS TO WHAT CHARGES *AND* EVIDENCE THEY HAD AGAINST HIM....
Commented By: k1ba
On: June 26, 2012. 9:22 pm
It also doesnt help that he plead guilty for what I think is a dumb reason. Would a lawyer give advice like that?
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