Julian Zapata Espinoza, a Mexican national, has been extradited from Mexico to the United States.  Mr. Espinoza will face charges for the murder of ICE Special Agent Jaime Zapata and the attempted murder of ICE Special Agent Victor Avila.  Several U.S. and Mexican agencies participated in the investigation, highlighting both the close cooperation between the two governments and the escalating violence resulting from Mexico's crackdown on drug trafficking.

Callixte Mbarushimana, a Rwandan accused of leading attacks against villages in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2009, has been ordered to be released by the International Criminal Court (ICC).  Prosecutors are expected to appeal the ruling.

Citation: Associated Press,The Hague: Prosecutors Lose  Appeal To Retain Rwandan Suspect, The New York Times, December 20, 2011.

Venezuelan officials deported Maximiliano Bonilla Orozco, a drug-trafficker on Colombia's most-wanted list, to the United States to face trial.  Bonilla had ties to Mexico's Zetas cartel, and was highly sought after by the United States.  This move, along with the deportation of another high-ranking trafficker, may improve the anti-narcotics relationship between the United States and Venezuela.

Citation: Associated Press, Venezuela hands over alleged drug lord to U.S., The Washington Post, December 16, 2011.

On December 12, the Assembly  of States by acclamation names a lawyer from gamibia, Fatou bensouda, the new chief prosecutor of the International Court of Justice.  The election comes as the ICC is adjudicating six cases involving Afria (the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Uganda, the Ivory Coast, Sudan, and Libya), in which women are often the victims.

Her election also comes as the ICC has pressed  Malawi to the UN Security Council for their failure to arrest and surrender Sudanese President Omar Al-bashir during his visits to both countries. 

The fact that Ms. Bensouda has served as deputy chief prosecutor has brings continuity, which is useful since she is only the second chief prosecutor for the ICC.

[caption align=right][/caption]

Bruce Zagaris will teach a graduate class at Thomas Jefferson School of Law on Financial Crimes and Institutional Security.  The course will run from January 11, 2012, to February 22.  The class is an advanced course in criminal law and institutional security that concentrates on the prevention, detection and prosecution of fraud and other financial crimes.  More information can be found at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law website.

The U.S. Senate is scheduled to debate a bill sanctioning Russia over human rights abuses, in particular the death of anti-corruption lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who died in prison due to lack of medical care.  The sanctions included in the bill would impact the visa and financial status of certain Russian officials linked to Magnitsky's death and other abuses.  The IELR published an article on this subject in October, 2011.

Citation: Kathy Lally, Senate holds Russia, Magnitsky bill hearing, The Washington Post, December 13, 2011.

Manuel Noriega, the ex-dictator of Panama, has been transferred from a prison in France to one in Panama.  Noriega was ousted from power when U.S. troops invaded Panama and arrested him in 1990. He has served prison terms in France and the U.S., and will likely spend the rest of his life incarcerated in his home country.  

Citation: Associated Press, Noriega Returns home to prison, The Washington Post, December 12, 2011.

                On December 8, 2011, the U.S. Department of Justice(DOJ)  released a report by the  Office of the Inspector General (OIG) on whether the DOJ is effectively managing the International Prisoner Transfer Program (treaty transfer program) for foreign national inmates.  The OIG reviewed the roles of the DOJ’s components involved in the treaty transfer program, the selection of inmates to be transferred, the timeliness of the process, the costs associated with the program, and recidivism in the U.S.

The head of the Camorra crime syndicate, Michele Zagaria, has been apprehended by Italian authorities.  Zagaria, who has been hiding from the police since the mid 1990s and has already been convicted of murder in absentia, built up one of Italy's most powerful criminal organizations and dealt in drug dealing, murder, and other crimes.

Citation: Jak Phillips, Italian Mob Boss Nabbed in Rural Bunker After 16-Year Hunt, TIME, December 8, 2011.

London's High Court ruled on Monday that Julian Assange, the Wikileaks founder who faces extradition to Sweden to face sex crime allegations, can appeal his case to the Supreme Court.  Assange will argue before the court that the European arrest warrant issued for his arrest was flawed, as it was signed by a public prosecutor.  Assange has been fighting extradition from Britain for over a year.

Citation: Karla Adam, Wikileaks founder can continue extradition fight, The Washington Post, December 6, 2011.