Edwin Adams Cotto
Encyclopedia
Edwin Adams Cotto was a Puerto Rican
who became infamous in 2002, after he was accused alongside famous reporter Laura Hernandez
of drug trafficking from Puerto Rico
to the Dominican Republic
.
while in jail.
On late 2002, he joined Hernandez, Irizarry and others in a boat
trip to the Dominican Republic. They were to stay there for about two weeks, allegedly to travel around the country and do some sightseeing as a group of tourists.
On the tenth day of their stay, however, their boat was raided by the Dominican police
, which found drugs in their boat. Thinking that the group was there to do illegal drug business, the police quickly proceeded to arrest each member of the group. Adams Cotto was subsequently convicted and sentenced to spend seven years in jail.
Beginning in 2003, Adams Cotto, like the rest of his group of friends, began a series of appeals, trying to have his sentence reduced. He lost each of the appeals.
By 2004, Adams Cotto had been diagnosed both with AIDS and with cancer
, with the latter disease possibly coming as a consequence of the former. Late in 2004, Adams Cotto was told by doctors
that his cancer was terminal, and his lawyers rushed to have a new appeal, hoping that Dominican judges would give Adams Cotto a vote of clemency based on his health
status, and indult
him so that he could fly
back to Puerto Rico and live his last days alongside his family, including a sister who kept constant telephone
and mail
communication with him. The appeal was, however, once again denied, as the judges said that "if we let him go, we'll have to do the same with the other convicted people in the Dominican Republic who are sick".
On March 7, 2005, a jail riot erupted in the Higuey jail where Cotto was imprisoned. He and Arod Levy III, another convict from his group of friends, burned
to death
during the ensuing fire
that also killed more than 130 other people.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
who became infamous in 2002, after he was accused alongside famous reporter Laura Hernandez
Laura Hernández
Laura Hernández Pérez is a Puerto Rican actress and journalist best known for being jailed in the Dominican Republic after being accused of drug trafficking with her husband and five other individuals who were traveling with her at the time of her arrest...
of drug trafficking from Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
to the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
.
Biography
Not much is known about Adams Cotto's life previous to being caught by the Dominican authorities. He was, apparently, a small drug dealer who was friends with Hernandez, her husband Marcos Irizarry, and five others. He was apparently also a drug user, as he was diagnosed with AIDSAIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
while in jail.
On late 2002, he joined Hernandez, Irizarry and others in a boat
Boat
A boat is a watercraft of any size designed to float or plane, to provide passage across water. Usually this water will be inland or in protected coastal areas. However, boats such as the whaleboat were designed to be operated from a ship in an offshore environment. In naval terms, a boat is a...
trip to the Dominican Republic. They were to stay there for about two weeks, allegedly to travel around the country and do some sightseeing as a group of tourists.
On the tenth day of their stay, however, their boat was raided by the Dominican police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
, which found drugs in their boat. Thinking that the group was there to do illegal drug business, the police quickly proceeded to arrest each member of the group. Adams Cotto was subsequently convicted and sentenced to spend seven years in jail.
Beginning in 2003, Adams Cotto, like the rest of his group of friends, began a series of appeals, trying to have his sentence reduced. He lost each of the appeals.
By 2004, Adams Cotto had been diagnosed both with AIDS and with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, with the latter disease possibly coming as a consequence of the former. Late in 2004, Adams Cotto was told by doctors
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
that his cancer was terminal, and his lawyers rushed to have a new appeal, hoping that Dominican judges would give Adams Cotto a vote of clemency based on his health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
status, and indult
Indult
An indult in Catholic canon law is a permission, or privilege, granted by the competent church authority – the Holy See or the diocesan bishop, as the case may be – for an exception from a particular norm of church law in an individual case, for example, members of the consecrated life seeking to...
him so that he could fly
Flight
Flight is the process by which an object moves either through an atmosphere or beyond it by generating lift or propulsive thrust, or aerostatically using buoyancy, or by simple ballistic movement....
back to Puerto Rico and live his last days alongside his family, including a sister who kept constant telephone
Telephone
The telephone , colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sounds, usually the human voice. Telephones are a point-to-point communication system whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to each other...
and mail
Mail
Mail, or post, is a system for transporting letters and other tangible objects: written documents, typically enclosed in envelopes, and also small packages are delivered to destinations around the world. Anything sent through the postal system is called mail or post.In principle, a postal service...
communication with him. The appeal was, however, once again denied, as the judges said that "if we let him go, we'll have to do the same with the other convicted people in the Dominican Republic who are sick".
On March 7, 2005, a jail riot erupted in the Higuey jail where Cotto was imprisoned. He and Arod Levy III, another convict from his group of friends, burned
Burn (injury)
A burn is a type of injury to flesh caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, light, radiation or friction. Most burns affect only the skin . Rarely, deeper tissues, such as muscle, bone, and blood vessels can also be injured...
to death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
during the ensuing fire
Fire
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition....
that also killed more than 130 other people.