TRUE CRIME DOCUMENTARY
A daughter's journey to free her father
Disillusioned with the American Criminal Justice System, a resolute daughter embarks on a mission to liberate her father from the clutches of a lifelong sentence that fractured her family 18 years ago.
The case: Armando Garcia V The United States of America
In 2001, Armando Garcia was released from serving a ten year sentence for conspiracy to import cocaine. Upon release, he was reunited with his family and quickly changed their lives for the better, securing a job, a house, and even going to night school for real estate and technology. He was making up for lost time and filling the role of a loving father and husband.
Shortly upon release he is approached by FBI Special Agent Manuel Ortega, who wanted Garcia to work with him, as he had in the past, but Armando had no desire to get involved with drug related activity and just wanted to be with his family, his wife, and his children
But after much continued pressure, Armando agrees to work as a confidential informant for Agent Ortega investigating terrorist related activity in 2002. While working for Ortega, he discovers a deal involving 1200 kilos of cocaine, weapons, and money that was to be brought to the US via submarine by a man named Javier Mejia. The investigation however, takes a turn for the suspiciously botched upon the involvement of the DEA, and ends up leaving Armando backed into a corner, entrapped, and betrayed by his handlers.
What results can only be described as a domestic "Spy vs. Spy" situation with no actual drugs to be exchanged, no cash to buy, and no real criminals to arrest.
Armando is arrested and sentenced to LIFE on a conspiracy charge. Javier and his submarine with 1200 kilos of drugs, weapons, and money never get caught and fall by the wayside. It's almost as if the DEA did not want Javier Mejia to get caught, almost as if the submarine with weapons, drugs, and money was a piece of a bigger agenda they needed to push at all costs.
The trial and the sentence
Garcia’s case was originally assigned to Judge Marcia Cooke, a fair left-leaning judge appointed by George W Bush in 2004. But a few days before the trial, the case was transferred to the honorable Patricia Seitz, a very hard right-leaning judge that is notoriously harsh on minorities. On top of this, the government also brought in Karen Gilbert, a prosecutor known to “do their dirty work.” This last minute biased configuration resulted in several violations made during the trial, all of which created an unfair trial for Armando. Armando received a guilty verdict where the judge went on to sentence him to the maximum penalty with enhancements that lead to life + 120 months.
For over a decade, Garcia has sought to have his habeas claims heard and fully decided on, and for over a decade he has been unsuccessful. He has put forth sound arguments and has toiled for years serving a LIFE sentence in hopeless pursuit of an opportunity: An opportunity that has been denied by judges on procedural hurdles such as "not making the requisite showing for a COA [Certificate of Appealability]", only to see the same judges grant COA in a myriad of cases raising the same grounds.
Armando is a man with a story that stands apart from almost any other American story, but his story is as American as they come.
The fact is that Armando sits today in prison serving a life sentence for a crime that didn’t exist. He was only vulnerable to arrest in the first place because he conceded to help the FBI with this case and serve his country by assisting them with an investigation of weapons smuggling and potential terrorist activity.
Synopsis
The Truth of the Facts is a four part documentary series that explores the injustices and anomalies around Armando Garcia V The United States of America, highlighting the gaps within the story leading up to his arrest, the mishandling of his trial, and the harsh sentencing laws for nonviolent drug offenses that contributed to him receiving a LIFE sentence while working as an confidential informant for the FBI. It uses this case as a way to tackle several related themes such as mass incarceration, the War on Drugs, corruption within federal agencies, the plight of immigrants, and criminal justice reform.
A complex yet intimate story documented by Armando's youngest daughter, Elizabeth Garcia, The Truth of the Facts follows Armando and his family in an endless pursuit for his freedom as they stitch together events from the past and highlight the impact that his absence had on their lives.
At its core, The Truth of the Facts is as much a personal story as it is a commentary on the senseless “War on Drugs”, the collateral damage it creates, and America’s corrupt practices that occur in its name.
In a country where roughly 2.12 million people are incarcerated, this documentary hopes to challenge the way we think about sentencing and aid others in similar situations who slip through the cracks of justice, discussing:
Mass Incarceration
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The War on Drugs
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Immigrants and the "American Dream"
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Mandatory Minimum Sentencing
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Criminal Justice & Reform
The Justice System
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FBI & DEA Corruption
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The Dangers of Being a CI
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Family Trauma
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Reintegration
But we need your help…
This documentary is the strongest shot Armando has to finally be free and come home to his family.
Your donation is greatly appreciated and will go directly towards production costs and the vital telling of this story. All donations above $1000 are tax deductible.
