The Butner-Creedmoor News: Knott applauds extradition of murder suspect
U.S. Rep. Brad Knott, who represents North Carolina’s 13th District, last week expressed appreciation for the extradition of the man charged in connection with the 2022 slaying of a Wake County Sheriff’s Deputy.
Alder Alfonso Marin-Sotelo has been extradited back to the United States from Mexico and is slated to face trial on a charge of first-degree murder in connection with the Aug. 11, 2022, death of Deputy Ned Byrd.
“Many North Carolinians, especially in the law enforcement community, dealt with the grief of losing Wake County Sheriff’s Deputy Ned Byrd before being robbed of justice as one of the primary suspects escaped to Mexico,” said Knott, whose district includes a part of Granville County. “This same fact pattern happens far too often. I thank and applaud President Trump, Attorney General Bondi and Secretary of State Rubio for securing the extradition of Deputy Byrd’s suspected murderer and 28 other vicious criminals to the United States to face prosecution.”
Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said she is glad the trial can move forward.
“The return of Mr. Marin-Sotelo to the United States now allows us to move forward with this case and set a trial date,” Freeman said. “We are grateful for the cross-agency collaboration that brought him back to face these charges. We know this is a case of significant importance to our community, and our thoughts remain with Deputy Byrd’s family and friends.”
We hope this brings a measure of closure to Deputy Byrd’s family, friends, and colleagues who continue to honor his memory,” the sheriff’s office said in the press release.
The U.S. Justice Department reported that the United States has secured custody of 29 defendants — including Marin-Sotelo — from Mexico, who are facing charges in districts around the country relating to racketeering, drug-trafficking, murder, illegal use of firearms, money laundering, and other crimes.
“The defendants taken into U.S. custody today include leaders and managers of drug cartels recently designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists, such as the Sinaloa Cartel, Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), Cártel del Noreste (formerly Los Zetas), La Nueva Familia Michoacana, and Cártel de Golfo (Gulf Cartel),” the Justice Department said in a Feb. 28 press release. “These defendants are collectively alleged to have been responsible for the importation into the United States of massive quantities of poison, including cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin, as well as associated acts of violence.”
“As President Trump has made clear, cartels are terrorist groups, and this Department of Justice is devoted to destroying cartels and transnational gangs,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We will prosecute these criminals to the fullest extent of the law in honor of the brave law enforcement agents who have dedicated their careers — and in some cases, given their lives — to protect innocent people from the scourge of violent cartels. We will not rest until we secure justice for the American people.”