Wrong Inmate Freed in Mix-Up at Federal Center

In a case of mistaken identity, officials at a federal detention facility in Downtown Los Angeles released the wrong inmate last week, freeing a Mexican drug convict who was sentenced to 15 years instead of a man accused of possessing stolen Social Security checks.

Enrique Contreras, 31, remains at large after the Sept. 22 mix-up involving two inmates with nearly identical names, according to Robert Curley, associate warden at the federal Metropolitan Detention Center.

Federal marshals have been searching for Contreras in Southern California, although they acknowledge that he could have returned to his native Mexicali, Mexico, Deputy U.S. Marshal Tom Figmik said.

“All his ties indicate he would go back there,” Figmik said Friday.

Contreras was convicted of transporting 294 kilograms of cocaine across the border last year as part of a ring that transported the drug from Southern California to New York City, according to federal court documents.

Contreras, who was awaiting transfer to a federal prison to begin serving his sentence, showed no surprise when officials told him last week that he was to be released, according to Curley.

“He was very cool,” Curley said.

Prison officials double-checked their release form by asking Contreras his name, date of birth and identification number, and proceeded to set him free, said Curley.

The only problem: a technician had mistakenly instructed a computer to print a release form for the wrong Contreras. Enrique Limon-Contreras, 46, who was charged with possession of stolen mail, remained in his cell awaiting his release. A superintendent apparently noticed the mistake minutes after Contreras was set free, Curley said. The correct inmate, Limon-Contreras, was freed a few hours later.

Curley said he was not sure of the terms of Limon-Contreras’ release orders.

Court records show that Limon-Contreras pleaded guilty to the mail charge in July, 1994, after being caught trying to cash stolen Social Security checks at a Downtown post office. He was released on probation after four months, but violated the terms of his probation and was detained again. He appeared at a probation-revocation hearing Sept. 21, court records show.

As far as authorities can determine, a technician reading a court release form for Enrique Limon-Contreras apparently brought up the wrong Contreras file on a computer, Curley said.

Apparently not noticing that the prisoner identification number differed from the form, the technician instructed the computer to prepare a release form for the wrong Contreras. Armed with the release, officials apparently followed the correct procedures and set the wrong man free.