Jason Puracal News Articles

Sisters to visit UW grad jailed in Nicaragua

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/133499983.html

SEATTLE -- University of Washington graduate Jason Puracal, who has been locked up in a Nicaraguan prison for one full year now, is about to get two welcomed visitors.

The man's two sisters left for the notorious La Modelo Prison on Tuesday morning.

"We're pretty excited," said sister Janice Puracal. "We haven't seen him in a year now, and he's completely different as far as we can tell from the pictures."

On Sept. 20, Jason Puracal was sentenced to 22 years for crimes he swears he didn't commit.

"Everyday, someone is threatening to stab me, to rob me. It's a constant battle every day to stay alive," he said.

Jason Puracal had been a successful realtor in Nicaragua until his home was raided and he was accused of drug trafficking and money laundering. Since then, his family has tried to keep his story alive.

"It is absolutely unacceptable what has happened to Jason, but we are all prepared to keep fighting," said Janice Puracal.

So far, nothing has worked.

"I think he's pretty frustrated," Janice Puracal said. "I think he's more than anything in shock that it's a year later and he's still there. And we haven't been able to get him out, and this is all because the police don't want to admit they were wrong."

The two women left Tuesday morning, heavy-hearted but still hopeful.

"We're just excited to tell him we're still fighting for him, so he knows that everybody's still here, everybody still cares, and we're all hanging in there," said Janice Puracal. "We're bringing a whole suitcase of letters and cards and gifts for him, and his favorite beef jerky from the market and all that kind of stuff."

Jason Puracal's lawyers and family are in the process of appealing his conviction, but they say the judge in the case has so far refused to send the appeal to the appellate courts so it can be carried out.