U.S. Hands Colombians Stiff Sentences in Agent Kidnap, Killing

Two Colombians were handed long prison sentences Monday for the 2013 kidnapping and murder of U.S. agent James "Terry" Watson in Bogota, authorities said.

Edgar Javier Bello was sentenced to 36 years plus six months in prison, while Omar Fabian Valdez was sentenced to 29 years, a Justice Department statement said.

They pleaded guilty to organizing a theft, using a taxi, that led to the murder of Watson, an agent with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

"With these sentencings, all seven defendants involved in the kidnapping and murder of Special Agent Terry Watson have been found, prosecuted, and brought to justice," said Attorney General Eric Holder.  

"Special Agent Watson was a courageous patriot, a principled law enforcement agent, and a proud defender of the rule of law. Our nation owes him and his loved ones a debt we can never repay."

Also convicted with Bello and Valdez were Julio Estiven Gracia, Hector Lopez, Andres Oviedo, Edwin Figueroa, while Wilson Peralta was sentenced for obstruction of justice.