March 14, 1998: Thomas Bean arrested by Mexican authorities while entering Nuevo Laredo with 200 rounds of overlooked ammo in the back of his Suburban.
May 27, 1998: Bean convicted by Mexican court.
September 21, 1998: Bean transferred from Mexico to La Tuna Penitentiary in the United States under the International Prisoner Transfer Treaty.
October 21, 1998: Bean released from La Tuna Penitentiary.
August 30, 1999: US District Court in Beaumont ends court supervision of Bean.
February 22, 2000: US District Court rules in favor of Mr. Bean in Bean v. U.S., 89 F. Supp. 2d 828, aff'd, 253 F. 3d. 234, 238 (5th Cir. 2001), rev'd, 537 U.S. 71, 123 S.Ct. 584, 154 L.Ed.2d. 483, (2002).
June 20, 2001: Fifth Circuit affirms the District Court Decision in Bean v. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, 253 F. 3d. 234, 238 (5th Cir. 2001), rev'd, 537 U.S. 71, 123 S.Ct. 584, 154 L.Ed.2d. 483, (2002).
December 10, 2002: US Supreme Court, in unanimous decision authored by Justice Clarence Thomas, reverses Fifth Circuit decision. U.S. v. Bean, 537 U.S. 71, 123 S.Ct. 584, 154 L.Ed.2d. 483, (2002)
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