In the years leading up to the sentence commutations of Border Patrol agents Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos, WND published at least 228 news stories and 51 commentaries about the case.

The detailed coverage has continued since the first report Aug. 7, 2006.

Ramos and Compean began serving sentences of 11 and 12 years, respectively, for shooting at a fleeing illegal alien drug dealer while he smuggled nearly 750 pounds of marijuana across the border. The men were convicted of assault, discharge of a weapon in the commission of a crime of violence and deprivation of civil rights.

Joseph Farah, editor of WND, launched a petition and letter-writing campaign that re-energized the Ramos-Compean issue in the last 30 days of Bush's term.

The petition collected more than 40,000 signatures by the time President Bush commuted the agents' sentences, and the letter campaign produced more than 3,000 FedEx letters to the White House.

WND sent copies of some of the news stories and commentaries to the agents in prison. When Jose Compean learned about the petition and FedEx campaign, he sent a letter to WND from the Federal Correctional Institution in Lisbon, Ohio.

(Story continues below)

"Although our case received attention before we reported to prison, I truly believed people would forget all about us," Compean wrote. "Once we reported to prison, I was very happy to see how wrong I was. I have received thousands of letters from people all over the country. I have also received letters from other countries such as Italy and even a few from soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Joe Loya, Ramos' father-in-law, said he was thankful for the in-depth coverage.

"We can only thank Joseph Farah, Jerome Corsi and the staff at WorldNetDaily because from the beginning you have been with us and you never gave up on the case," he said today. "Your reporting had a lot to do with the decision today by President Bush to commute the sentences."

The families remained optimistic until the president's last day in office and kept their faith through difficult times.

"You have to believe that God has a plan," Patty Compean told WND. "He will not throw something at you that you cannot handle."

 

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Previous stories:

Father-in-law: WND 'had a lot to do' with decision

Bush cuts sentences of Ramos, Compean

DOJ considering commutation for Ramos, Compean

10 congressmen urge clemency for agents

Compean finally speaks from behind prison bars

Agent 'has butterflies' over chance for reprieve

Big name senators plead for agents' freedom

Bush on border agents: 'I'm not talking pardons'

Obama's ICE candidate pleads for agents' pardon

Compean's wife wants heart-to-heart with Bush

Bush springs drug dealers, lets 2 border agents rot

Ramos-Compean treatment has border agents quivering

President Bush thinking of border agent pardons?

No mercy for jailed Border Patrol agent

Rules allow border agents to seek clemency

Border agent convictions upheld by court of appeals

What did government promise drug smuggler?

New ethics complaint targets Ramos-Compean prosecutor

'Ramos, Compean must ask for clemency'

Call renewed for pardons for border agents

Pardon me: Bush blasted for ignoring border agents

'Free agents by Christmas' plan gains momentum

House resolution wants Ramos, Compean freed

Another win for border agent who struck illegal

Feds admit smuggler lied in Ramos-Compean case

Jailed border agents plead for new trial

Rights 'denied' Ramos, Compean

Ramos, Compean feared for their lives

Drug smuggler arrested for 2nd marijuana load

'Pardon Ramos and Compean now!'

Arrest prompts call for release of Ramos, Compean

Bush won't get involved in Ramos, Compean review

Lawmaker: Terrorists treated better than Ramos, Compean

Texas deputy freed from prison

Jailed Texas deputy scheduled for release

Gil Hernandez 'fears for his life'

Border Patrol agent vindicated

Sheriff sees pattern in border agents' cases

Feds seeking 7 years for another Texas cop

Justice urged to release Ramos-Compean documents

Records prompt call for new Ramos-Compean trial

Congressman: Bush 'doesn't give a damn'

Cop called 'double agent' in Ramos-Compean case

Ramos, Compean release on bond nixed

Border agents' case inspires song

Feinstein still probing Ramos-Compean case

Judicial Watch seeks records in Ramos-Compean case

Sheriff: Deputy prosecuted by Mexico's demand

Senate hearings on Ramos-Compean postponed

Smuggler's 2nd drug case confirmed by accomplice

Ramos attorney calls for mistrial

Smuggler's 2nd delivery of marijuana confirmed

Congressman: Probe Mexico's role in prosecutions

Mexico demanded U.S. prosecute sheriff, agents

Discrepancies in case against Border Patrol unresolved

Compean reports reading half of Bible already

How cozy was Border Patrol with smuggler?

Border Patrol agents fired for changing testimonies

Drug smuggler left cell phone in van

Border-agent investigator had tie to smuggler

Author of DHS border-agent report lied to Congress

Officials urged to resign for lie about border agents

Government admits lying about jailed border agents

Imprisoned border agent did report shooting

Imprisoned border agent beaten by fellow inmates

Prosecutor had evidence against drug smuggler

Poe seeks 'public' documents on border agents

Prosecutor accused of hiding smuggler's 2nd drug bust

Homeland Security memos contradict U.S. attorney

Uproar over border agents to get White House review

Feds 'knew smuggler' in Border Patrol case

Ballistics data don't support charge against border agents

Funds set up for Border Patrol agents

Congressman: Feds stonewalling on border agents

Border agent's wife at State of the Union

Revolt builds as Republicans seek to toss border agents' convictions

Border Patrol agent held in solitary confinement

Imprisoned agent's wife: President is a hypocrite

Border agents' prosecutor responds to critics

Border agents sent to prison

Border agents plead for 'Christmas pardon'

White House clarifies 'nonsensical' comment'

12 congressmen demand pardon for border agents

Snow says question on agents' prison time 'nonsensical'