U.S. Department of Justice

U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI - West Palm Beach Suite 500 505 South Flagler Drive West Palm Beach, FL 33401 Phone: Fax: July 23, 2008 US Embassy Bogota Calle - Attn: Santafe Degota Colombia Re: Case Number: 31E-MM-108062 Dear Your name was referred to the FBI's Victim Assistance Program as being a possible victim of a federa 1 crime. We appreciate your assistance and cooperation while we are investigating this case. We would like to make you aware of the victim services that may be available to you and to answer any questions you m ay have regarding the criminal justice process throughout the investigation. Our program is part of the FBI' s effort to ensure the victims are treated with respect and are provided information about their rights under fe deral law. These rights include notification of the status of the case. The enclosed brochures provide informat ion about the FBI's Victim Assistance Program, resources and instructions for accessing the Victim Notificatio n System (VNS). VNS is designed to provide you with information regarding the status of your case. As a crime victim, you have the following rights under 18 United States Code AU 3771: (1) The right to be reasonably protected from the accused; (2) The right to reasonable, accurate, and timely notice o f any public court proceeding, or any parole proceeding, involving the crime or of any release or escape o f the accused; (3) The right not to be excluded from any such public court proceeding, unless the court, a fter receiving clear and convincing evidence, determines that testimony by the victim would be materially altered if the victim heard other testimony at that proceeding; (4) The right to be reasonably heard at any pub lic proceeding in the district court involving release, plea, sentencing, or any parole proceeding; (5) The reasonable right to confer with the attorney for the Government in the case; (6) The right to full a nd timely restitution as provided in law; (7) The right to proceedings free from unreasonable delay; (8) The r ight to be treated with fairness and with respect for the victim's dignity and privacy. We will make our best efforts to ensure you are accorded the rights described. Most of these rights pertain to events occurring after the arrest or indictment of an individual for the crime, and it wi 11 become the responsibility of the prosecuting United States Attorney's Office to ensure you are accorded those r ights. You may also seek the advice of a private attorney with respect to these rights. The Victim Notification System (VNS) is designed to provide you with direct information regarding th e case as it proceeds through the criminal justice system. You may obtain current information about th is matter on the Internet at WWW.Notify.USDOJ.GOV or from the VNS Call Center at 1-866-DOJ-4Y0U (1- III.) (TDD/TTY: (International: 1--). In addition, you may use the Call Center or Internet to update your contact information and/or change your decision about participatio n in the notification program. If you update your information to include a current email address, VNS will se nd information to that address. You will need the following Victim Identification Number (VIN) ' and Personal Identification Number (PIN) 'III.' anytime you contact the Call Center and the first time y ou log on to VNS on the Internet. In addition, the first time you access the VNS Internet site, you will be promp ted to enter your last name (or business name) as currently contained in VNS. The name you should enter is Velasc o. If you have additional questions which involve this matter, please contact the office listed above. When you call, please provide the file number located at the top of this letter. Please remember, your pa rticipation in the notification part of this program is voluntary. In order to continue to receive notifications , it is your EFTA00269805 responsibility to keep your contact information current. Sincerely, Victim Specialist CC: EFTA00269806