Circuit Judge Susan W. Roberts sentenced Nelson Ivan Serrano, 68, to 4 death sentences.

Circuit Judge Susan W. Roberts sentenced Nelson Ivan Serrano, 68, to 4 death sentences. On Oct. 24, 2006 (see), a Polk County jury recommended 9-3 the death penalties for Serrano. He had been found guilty in the shooting deaths of a former business partner and 3 bystanders. Frank Dosso, 35; Diane Patisso, 28 and George Patisso, Jr., 26; and George Gonsalves, 69; were all shot to death on Dec. 3, 1997. Government officials in Serrano's native Ecuador have protested against the death penalty. In February, Ecuador's Foreign Ministry requested Serrano be returned to that country because he was "illegally" taken to the United States to face charges. Ecuador will not extradite fugitives who are facing the death penalty in other countries, but U.S. authorities in 2002 were able to use Serrano's status as a U.S. citizen to get him deported. Serrano had both U.S. and Ecuadorean passports at the time of his arrest.