U.S. Wants Death Penalty for Suspects in Killing of 2 Agents

Federal authorities have asked the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office to file state charges against two suspected heroin dealers accused of murdering a pair of federal drug agents, a move that would allow imposition of the death penalty in the case, U.S. Atty. Robert C. Bonner said Friday.

The two men, William Wang and Michael Chia, already face federal murder charges in connection with the Feb. 5 slayings, but Bonner said he has decided to recommend trying the men under California law instead.

“The astonishing fact is that federal law, while it makes it a crime to murder federal agents, we have reluctantly concluded that it does not permit the possibility of the death penalty being imposed . . . (but) it is possible to obtain capital punishment under state law,” Bonner said.

Would Ask Death Penalty

“For that reason, I’ve asked the D.A.’s office to review the matter with a view toward determining whether they think it would be appropriate to file murder charges alleging special circumstances, which would permit imposition of the death penalty.”

Bonner and Dist. Atty. Ira Reiner scheduled a news conference for Monday morning to announce formal filing of any additional charges.

Wang, 18, of Hacienda Heights, and Chia, 20, a San Gabriel Valley resident, are accused in the murder of Drug Enforcement Administration agents Paul Seema and George Montoya during an undercover heroin transaction that turned into a robbery. A third agent, Jose Martinez, was wounded in the attack.

Wang, who has reportedly admitted shooting at least two of the agents, was indicted on federal charges of murdering a federal agent. Chia, who reportedly acted as Wang’s “bodyguard” during the planned “rip-off” of the agents, is charged with being an accessory to the murder and aiding and abetting, as well as assault and robbery of a federal agent.

Ruled Unconstitutional

Because Congress has not restored the federal death penalty since the Supreme Court ruled existing statutes unconstitutional more than 10 years ago, federal crimes are not subject to capital punishment.

“I think it’s an outrage that federal agents, who are investigating and enforcing federal laws, can be murdered on the streets in cold blood, and yet federal law does not provide for capital punishment,” Bonner said.

“Hopefully, that will be corrected, despite the amount of time that’s already elapsed, and will be corrected fairly soon,” he said.

Charges Not Determined

There was no indication late Friday of what, if any, state charges would be filed against the two men. Theoretically, at least Wang, who was himself injured during a shoot-out with pursuing officers after the killings, could be charged with murder during the commission of a robbery, which carries the death penalty, Bonner said.

“I don’t know, and frankly we’ll have to see, what charges are filed on Chia,” he said. “That frankly is up to the district attorney.”

Should state charges be filed in the case, Bonner said, he will move to dismiss the federal charges.