By Joel Langton
Del Rio, TEXAS — The man convicted of killing a Customs Service inspector at the Del Rio Port of Entry Jan. 28, 1984 returned to Del Rio 36 years later on a State of Texas jet in hand and ankle cuffs.
Raphael Calderon-Velasquez was sentenced to life in prison for killing Richard Latham, a federal law enforcement officer assigned to Del Rio’s Port of Entry, in 1984.
The federal government released him from Terre Haute Federal Prison Tuesday Aug. 25 and Texas Rangers picked him up and brought him back to Del Rio.
On the tarmac of Del Rio International Airport, more than 50 law enforcement officers waited at parade rest as Calderon-Velasquez was led off the airplane by a duo of Texas Rangers. 
As you could barely see the sun setting over Ciudad Acuna, Mexico, Sharon Ansick, a Customs and Border Protection officer reminded all the officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, Texas Department of Public Safety, Maverick County Sheriff’s Department and Val Verde County Sheriff’s Department to stay at the position of Parade Rest.
“We are showing him no honors,” she reminded the officers. “We are here to remind him we never forget and to let the family of Richard to know we always stand with them.”
The Bureau of Prisons had paroled Latham’s killer. “He killed a Texas citizen and a law enforcement officer,” a law enforcement officer said while waiting. “He doesn’t ever need to walk the earth a free man.”
Calderon-Velasquez pled guilty to the crime on the state level. A detainer allowed Maverick County to take custody. He will be transferred to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
The Texas Rangers escorted Calderon-Velasquez across the tarmac where they were met by two deputies from Maverick County. The Maverick County deputies each took one of Calderon-Velasquez’s arms and walked him to their waiting vehicle.
The murder had been committed in Maverick County, so he was remanded to their custody.
Before 8:30 p.m. a convoy of seven law enforcement vehicles left the flightline with a Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter overhead, all speeding towards Eagle Pass where Calderon-Velasquez may spend the rest of his days.
Many legal maneuverings will go on as Calderon-Velasquez will still come up for parole.
A former law enforcement officer who now serves in the State Senate said it was important to justice that Calderon-Velasquez be returned here versus be paroled.
“Justice delayed is justice denied,” Sen. Peter Flores, Texas Senate District 19 said. Justice will not be denied for the heinous murder of Richard Latham. Our citizens and our officers will have justice no matter how long it takes.”
