District of Puerto Rico
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Department of Justice Observes the 15th Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow joined Attorney General William P. Barr and the entire Department of Justice in observing the 15th Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The Department echoes voices around the world condemning elder abuse, neglect and exploitation.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for our country and the world, but among those most severely affected by the threat of the novel virus are our senior citizens. During this time when seniors are most vulnerable and isolated from their families and loved ones by social distancing and quarantine restrictions, bad actors have immediately exploited this international tragedy to prey on the elderly through a whole host of scams and fraud schemes. As the world takes this day to remember the elderly during these uncertain times, the Department of Justice remains relentlessly committed, through its department-wide Elder Justice Initiative, to prevent and prosecute fraud on America’s seniors.
The Department will aggressively prosecute fraudsters exploiting the Covid-19 pandemic by targeting seniors, offering them fake testing kits and fake help obtaining stimulus and Paycheck Protection Program Funds. On this day dedicated to recognizing our seniors, the Department of Justice sends a strong message that we continue the fight to keep seniors safe a top priority.
“Fraud schemes are intolerable, particularly those that take advantage of our seniors,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow. “We are actively working with federal and state law enforcement partners to prevent, detect and prosecute those who carry out schemes targeting senior citizens. The Department of Justice is committed to protecting our seniors from fraud and abuse, and my Office will continue to prioritize prosecuting criminals who prey on the elderly.”
Earlier this year Attorney General Barr declared “Prevention and Disruption of Transnational Elder Fraud” to be an Agency Priority Goal, making it one of the Department’s four top priorities. During the past year, yte District of Puerto Rico has brought federal charges in seven cases of elder fraud.
Major strides have already been made to that end:
- National Elder Fraud Hotline: 833-FRAUD-11
Earlier this year Attorney General Barr launched a National Elder Fraud Hotline. Staffed by experienced case managers who provide personalized support to callers, the hotline serves to assist elders and caretakers who believe they have been a victim of fraud by reporting and providing appropriate services. - Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force: Established in June 2019 to combat foreign elder fraud schemes, the Strike Force is composed of the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and six U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along with FBI special agents, Postal Inspectors, and numerous other law enforcement personnel. Since its inception, prosecutors in Strike Force districts brought cases against more than 140 sweep defendants.
- Annual Elder Justice Sweep: In March of this year, the Attorney General announced the largest coordinated sweep of elder fraud cases in department history. The Department, together with every U.S. Attorney’s office, charged more than 400 defendants, causing over $1 billion in loss through fraud schemes that largely affected seniors including six defendants in the District of Puerto Rico. In a 35-count indictment, defendants Luz M. Santiago-Torres, Jimmy E. Santiago-Burgos, Félix Rosa-Rosa, José Rivera-Esparra, and Ulises Feliciano-Caraballo were charged with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, 10 counts of mail fraud, 11 counts of wire fraud, six counts of aggravated identity theft, and seven counts of money laundering. Twelve of the victims of this scheme were seniors. In a separate three-count indictment, Johana Torres-Figueroa was charged with fraud in connection with a major disaster or emergency benefits fraud, making false statements to an agency of the United States, and aggravated identity theft of an unsuspecting elder victim. Both cases are ongoing.
- Money Mule Initiative: Since October 2018, the Department and its law enforcement partners began a concentrated effort across the country and around the world to disrupt, investigate, and prosecute money mule activity used to facilitate fraud schemes, especially those victimizing senior citizens. In 2019 actions were taken to halt the conduct of more than 600 domestic money mules, exceeding a similar effort against approximately 400 mules in the previous year.
- Holding foreign-based perpetrators and those that flee the United States accountable: Transnational criminal organizations are targeting our elder population in schemes including mass mailing fraud, grandparent scams, romance scams, lottery and sweepstakes scams, IRS and Social Security Administration imposter scams, and technical-support scams.
For more information on enforcement actions, training and resources, research, and victim services, please visit www.justice.gov/elderjustice.
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- National Elder Fraud Hotline: 833-FRAUD-11
Guilty Pleas and SentencesRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Last week, several defendants pled guilty and others were sentenced in the District Court of Puerto Rico, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.
- On June 2, 2020, Magistrate Judge Marcos E. López held a hearing during which defendant Xavier Rivera-Natal plead guilty to possessing a fully loaded machinegun at his home in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico. On March 27, 2019, pursuant to a locally issued search warrant, PRPD found the machinegun and four additional fully loaded ammunition magazines (total of 16 rounds in machinegun, 48 rounds in the magazines). Defendant also had one black and beige imitation rifle. Defendant has been in federal custody since the day of the offense. The case was investigated by local and federal agents from Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean P. Murphy was in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On June 2, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado-Hernández sentenced Alba Nydia Valentín-Rivera to a term of imprisonment of time already served (approximately 20 months and nine days) and a five-year term of supervised release for possessing a controlled substance with intent to distribute, specifically a quantity of heroin weighing at least 20 grams but less than 40 grams, in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. On September 24, 2018, PRPD agents went to El Carmen Public Housing Project to arrest a separate individual, but instead found Valentín-Rivera and co-defendant, Gilberto Antonio Martínez-Pagán, in an apartment owned by Valentín-Rivera. PRPD agents recovered large quantities of heroin, marijuana, cocaine base (also known as crack), cocaine, a digital scale, drug ledgers, drug packaging and distribution paraphernalia, approximately $2,300 cash, two machinegun conversion devices, a semiautomatic Glock pistol, and over 300 rounds of firearm ammunition in various calibers, from the apartment. Co-defendant Martínez-Pagán also plead guilty and is pending sentence, currently set for August 18, 2020. Valentín-Rivera has been in federal custody since the day of the offense. The case was investigated by local and federal agents from PRPD and ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean P. Murphy was in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On June 3, 2020, District Court Judge Aida Delgado-Colón sentenced Luis Alberto Germosen-Crisotomo to time served (roughly five months) of imprisonment, and three years of supervised release for the fraudulent use of a counterfeit Dominican Republic passport and U.S. visa issued under the name of another individual. Shortly before his sentencing hearing, Germosen had pled guilty to one count of Fraudulent Use of Visas, Permits and Other Documents. The case was investigated by U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Normary Figueroa was in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On June 4, 2020, Héctor Luis Mares-Valles pled guilty before U.S. District Court Chief Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí to one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a known convicted felon. Mares-Valles could be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than 10 years. Mares-Valles was arrested pursuant to a state search warrant where they found inside a residence a Glock pistol, and a total of 103 rounds of ammunition. This case was investigated by ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Pedro R. Casablanca was in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On June 5, 2020, Carlos Zalduondo-Díaz plead guilty to possessing a machinegun while being a prohibited person (felon). The charges stem from a confidential tip that alerted Aibonito PRPD officers of shots fired from a Toyota vehicle and provided them with the vehicle’s description. The information was quickly transferred to other agents who were able to detain the vehicle and seize the firearm. Defendant faces a maximum sentence of ten years of imprisonment. The case was investigated by ATF and PRPD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeanette Collazo-Ortiz was in charge of the prosecution of the case. Prosecution was made possible by the citizen who alerted law enforcement and because of the prompt response of the PRPD agents.
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Co-Owner of Puerto Rican Online Aquarium Business Pleads Guilty to Illicit Trafficking of Protected Reef CreaturesRead the Press Release
A former resident of Hormigueros, Puerto Rico, pleaded guilty today to export smuggling and two felony violations of the Lacey Act for collecting, falsely labeling, and shipping protected marine invertebrate species as part of an effort to subvert Puerto Rican law designed to protect corals and other reef species, the Department of Justice announced.
Raymond Michael Torres Ramos, 45, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach in the District of Puerto Rico, and will be sentenced on Nov. 13, 2020.
“The illegal harvest and trafficking of reef species is a significant problem that contributes to habitat destruction, coastal erosion, and the decline of coral ecosystems worldwide,” said Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The Department of Justice and its partners will continue to investigate and prosecute those who violate our environmental laws for illicit commercial gain.”
“Prosecutions like this one are important because, by holding companies and businessmen accountable for the harm they cause to the ocean’s ecosystem, we do our part to protect our natural resources,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico. “Puerto Rico is surrounded by the beauty of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, and those who intentionally damage our reefs must be held accountable for their criminal conduct.”
“Protection of our nation’s marine life resources is of utmost importance in this world. Marine life species such as Florida Ricordea and live rock that they are attached to are part of a complex marine reef ecosystem that is unique and fragile,” said David Pharo, Resident Agent in Charge of for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Office of Law Enforcement. “Cooperative investigations such as this too often expose these resources are illegally harvested and trafficked domestically and internationally. Just as these species were hammered and chiseled from their natural reef environment, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and partner agencies will continue to hammer and chisel away at those who traffic and profit from such unlawful activities.”
“This case highlights the great investigative collaboration in dismantling a concerted effort to profit from the destruction of the delicate marine ecosystem in Puerto Rico,” said Tracy A. Dunn, Assistant Director in charge of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Law Enforcement, Southeast Division. “NOAA's main mission is the protection of living marine resources and habitat for future generations. The agency's enforcement personnel take this responsibility seriously and work diligently to detect and collect evidence against those who would seek to profit from the over-harvest and trade in illegally taken marine species. I applaud the coordinated efforts of NOAA, USFWS, and DOJ to successfully bring Mr. Torres to justice.”
Torres was the co-owner of the San Sebastian, Puerto Rico-based saltwater aquarium business, Carebbean Reefers (spelling error intentional) that also operated online through the eBay store “Redragon1975”. A large part of the business was devoted to the sale of native Puerto Rican marine species that are popular in the saltwater aquarium trade.
Torres sent illegally collected live specimens to customers in the mainland United States and foreign countries by commercial courier services. One of the most popular items that Torres and his business sent off-island was an organism from the genus Ricordea. These animals are known as “rics,” “polyps,” or “mushrooms” in the aquarium industry. Members of the genus form part of the reef structure and spend their adult lives fastened in place to the reef. These animals are colorful in natural light, but what makes them particularly interesting to aquarium owners is that they “glow” under the UV lights that are typically used in high-end saltwater aquariums.
It is illegal to harvest Ricordea, zoanthids, and anemones in Puerto Rico if the specimens are going to be sent off-island or otherwise sold commercially, nor is there a permit available to do so. Torres personally collected some of the Ricordea and other reef creatures that he sold off-island. On multiple occasions, he would accompany another person and they would snorkel from the shoreline in search of Ricordea. Because Ricordea are attached to the reef substrate, Torres would utilize a chisel to break off the animals, and in doing so, take chunks of the reef with him.
In order to cover up the nature of his shipments and to avoid detection from governmental inspection authorities, Torres would falsely label many of his live shipments as inanimate objects. From January 2014 to March 2016, Torres sent or caused to be sent at least 100 shipments of marine species that were illegally harvested in the waters of Puerto Rico. While there is some variation in the price of Ricordea depending on coloration, size, and other factors, the aggregate retail value of illegal Ricordea shipped by Torres was worth approximately $400,000
This case was investigated as part of Operation Rock Bottom and Operation Borinquen Chisel by special agents of USFWS and NOAA with support from the USFWS inspectors. The case is being prosecuted by Christopher L. Hale of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen Marquez for the District of Puerto Rico.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Guilty Pleas and SentencesRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Last week, several defendants pled guilty and others were sentenced in the District Court of Puerto Rico, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.
- On May 26, 2020, United States District Court Chief Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí sentenced Isander Quiñones-Herrera to 51 months in prison for three counts of interference with commerce by threats or violence. The charges were based on defendant’s three separate robberies of Burger King restaurants in January and February 2018. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD), and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Juan C. Reyes.
- On May 26, 2020, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí sentenced David Morales-Zenquis to 11 years in prison and 20 years of supervised release after pleading guilty earlier this year to charges of coercing a minor female into sending him sexually explicit images and videos via two popular internet instant messaging applications. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and was prosecuted by AUSA Ginette Milanes.
- On May 26, 2020, Cresencio Olmo-Cruz was charged and pled guilty to one count of reentry of a removed alien whose removal was subsequent to a conviction for an aggravated felony. Olmo-Cruz reentered while he was on supervised release from his previous conviction and as such, his term of supervised release was also revoked. The case was investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and prosecuted by AUSA Linet Suárez.
- On May 26, 2020, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí sentenced José Parra Gutiérrez to 44 months’ imprisonment for his involvement in a conspiracy to commit money laundering. The indictment charged two Colombian citizens and three American citizens with conspiracy to launder drug proceeds. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and prosecuted by AUSA Maritza González.
- On May 26, 2020, US District Court Chief Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí sentenced Jason Osorio-Nieves to time served, approximately 12 months, for a firearm violation. On May 27, 2019, Osorio-Nieves illegally possessed a pistol while being an illegal alien. The case was investigated by ATF and prosecuted by AUSA Jeanette Collazo.
- On May 26, 2020, US District Court Chief Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí sentenced Stephanie Herrera-Montañez to 57 months’ imprisonment for violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, and committing bank robbery and burglary. Herrera-Montañez was a member of an organization that was responsible for the commission of multiple robberies and violent acts. Specifically, Herrera-Montañez served as a lookout for the organization. The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by AUSA Kelly Zenón.
- On May 26, 2020, Alexis Alexander-Montas Valenzuela pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marcos E. López for attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The defendant could face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The case was investigated by HSI and prosecuted by AUSA Corinne Cordero.
- On May 26, 2020, Victor M. Valcarcel-Delgado pled guilty to one count of impersonating an officer before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marcos E. López. Defendant was pretending to be an officer or an employee of the United States, and in that capacity obtained money from several individuals. The term of imprisonment per the applicable statute is not more than three years. AUSA Myriam Fernández is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On May 27, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Aida Delgado-Colón sentenced Dalvin Trinidad-Santana to time served, approximately five months, and one year of supervised release for one count of reentry of a removed alien. On November 20, 2019, CBP Office of Air and Marine assets stopped a vessel carrying defendant and 31 others approximately 20 nautical miles off the coast of Puerto Rico. Defendant was transferred to the Coast Guard and then to Border Patrol, and ultimately pled guilty to the charges as filed. Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA) Seth Tremble was in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On May 27, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Aida Delgado-Colón sentenced Michael J. Oquendo-Carrión to 37 months’ imprisonment for possession of a machinegun. The case was investigated by HSI and prosecuted by SAUSA Michele Colón.
- On May 27, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Aida Delgado-Colón sentenced José R. López Rosario to 96 months’ imprisonment for his participation in a drug trafficking conspiracy. The case was investigated by HSI and the US Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by AUSA Marc Chattah.
- On May 27, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Aida Delgado-Colón sentenced Ángel O. Rivera Ferrer to 130 months’ imprisonment for his participation in two separate drug trafficking conspiracies. The cases were investigated by HSI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by AUSA Marc Chattah.
- On May 27, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Aida Delgado-Colón sentenced Eric R. Piñero to 130 months’ imprisonment for his participation in two separate drug trafficking conspiracies. The cases were investigated by HSI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by AUSA Marc Chattah.
- On May 28, 2020, Senior District Court Judge Daniel R. Domínguez sentenced Luis Cataño Landan to 14 months’ imprisonment for his involvement in a large-scale drug conspiracy, and to 60 months as to a firearms violations count, to be served consecutively with each other for a total term of 74 months, this combined with a sentence of 43 months for a previous case, for a total sentence of 117 months. Cataño Landan had previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute narcotics and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The charged drug conspiracy included 44 defendants involved in the distribution of cocaine base (crack), heroin, cocaine, marihuana, Oxycodone (Percocet), and Alprazolam (Xanax) in Caguas and surrounding areas. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD), Caguas Strike Force Unit, with the collaboration of DEA and the U.S. Marshals. AUSA Corinne Cordero Romo was in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On May 28, 2020, Senior District Court Judge Daniel R. Domínguez sentenced Kenneth Cedeño to 87 months’ imprisonment and eight years of supervised release for his involvement in a large-scale drug conspiracy. Cedeño had previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute narcotics. The charged drug conspiracy included 44 defendants involved in the distribution of crack, heroin, cocaine, marihuana, Percocet, and Xanax in Caguas and surrounding areas. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD), Caguas Strike Force Unit, with the collaboration of DEA and the U.S. Marshals. AUSA Corinne Cordero Romo was in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On May 28, 2020, Ricardo Keith Edwin pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine before U.S. District Court Judge Francisco A. Besosa. The defendant traveled from Tortola, British Virgin Islands with his co-conspirator in order to exchange kilograms of cocaine for U.S. Currency. The applicable penalties are a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life imprisonment, and a supervised release term of not less than 5 years. AUSA Vanessa Bonhomme is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
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Department of Justice Awards Nearly $400 Million for Law Enforcement Hiring to Advance Community PolicingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice today announced nearly $400 million in grant funding through the Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The Attorney General announced funding awards to 596 law enforcement agencies across the nation, which allows those agencies to hire 2,732 additional full-time law enforcement professionals. The awards announced today are inclusive of the $51 million announced in May as part of Operation Relentless Pursuit.
“The Department of Justice is committed to providing the police chiefs and sheriffs of our great nation with needed resources, tools, and support. The funding announced today will bolster their ranks and contribute to expanding community policing efforts nationwide,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “A law enforcement agency’s most valuable assets are the men and women who put their lives on the line every day in the name of protecting and serving their communities.”
“The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico congratulates the six municipalities that received the COPS award, and we encourage other municipalities to continue applying for these and other grants that the Department of Justice offers, said United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, W. Stephen Muldrow.
The municipalities in the District of Puerto Rico that received the COPS funding awards to hire additional full-time law enforcement professionals are: Guaynabo - $1,958,611 for 28 officers; Hatillo - $344,176 for seven officers; Jayuya - $303,634 for six 6 officers; Luquillo - $793,725 for eight 8 officers; San Juan - $1,161,351 for 19 officers; and Villalba - $368,938 for seven officers.
The COPS Hiring Program is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing by providing direct funding for the hiring of career law enforcement officers. In addition to providing financial support for hiring, CHP provides funding to state, local, and tribal law enforcement to enhance local community policing strategies and tactics. In a changing economic climate, CHP funding helps law enforcement agencies maintain sufficient sworn personnel levels to promote safe communities. Funding through this program had been on hold since the spring of 2018 due to a nationwide injunction that was lifted earlier this year.
CHP applicants were required to identify a specific crime and disorder problem focus area and explain how the funding will be used to implement community policing approaches to that problem focus area. 43 percent of the awards announced today will focus on violent crime, while the remainder of the awards will focus on a variety of issues including school-based policing to fund school resource officer positions, building trust and respect, and opioid education, prevention, and intervention. The COPS Office received nearly 1,100 applications requesting more than 4,000 law enforcement positions.
The complete list of awards can be found here. To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit www.cops.usdoj.gov.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
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United States Attorney’s Office Indicts 14 Cases and 21 DefendantsRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Last week, two federal grand juries in the District of Puerto Rico returned 14 indictments charging 21 defendants during the first week that the United States District Court in Puerto Rico reconvened grand jury proceedings after implementation of health and safety precautions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The indictments include charges of firearms violations, drug trafficking, sexual exploitation of minors, cash smuggling, assault on a federal employee, and illegal reentry. The Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Drug Enforcement Administration; Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Customs and Border Protection Caribbean Air and Marine Operations; and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau were in charge of the different investigations.
“I would like to commend those who enabled our office to present cases to these federal grand jury panels, including United States District Court Chief Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí, Clerk of Court María Antongiorgi-Jordan, and their personnel, who implemented health and safety measures to allow these grand juries to meet,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow. “The federal grand jury, composed of dedicated citizens willing to serve, is a bedrock of our federal criminal justice system and a Constitutionally-protected right for all members of society. These indictments demonstrate the resolve of our office and our federal and local law enforcement partners to continue our public safety mission, notwithstanding the current COVID-19 pandemic.”
The following defendants were indicted:
- Sean Díaz De León and Juan Carlos Pagán Bonilla were charged with aiding and abetting each other, using a firearm during a carjacking, and causing the deaths of two transgender women.
- Jimmy Andrés Díaz Rosa and Reinaldo Rodríguez Colón were charged with attempted online enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity.
- Andrés Martínez was charged with conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
- Enrique José Félix Velázquez, Juan Manuel Cruz Hernández, Benjamín Pérez Encarnación, and Brian Cruz-Rodríguez were charged with conspiracy to smuggle more than $100,000 in currency on board of a vessel; and conspiracy to jettison property from a vessel. The defendants are facing a forfeiture allegation of approximately 1.3 million dollars.
- Jonathan Ortiz-Castrodad was charged with illegal possession of a machinegun.
- Ángel L. López-Estevez, a convicted felon, was charged with illegal possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
- Wilfredo Fontanez-Reyes was charged with assault on a federal officer. Fontanez-Reyes punched and caused bodily injuries to a postal service employee at the United States Post Office in Comerío, Puerto Rico, while the employee was engaged in his official duties.
- Juan Carlos Fuentes Pérez was charged with possession of a machinegun in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm and ammunition after having been convicted of a felony offense.
- Cristopher Lee Villanueva Díaz was charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
- Fernando Miguel Velázquez-Pérez was charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. He attempted to engage in sexual activity with someone he believed to be a 13 year-old minor.
- Harold Bryan Declet-Rivera was charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. He attempted to engage in sexual activity with someone he believed to be a 13 year-old minor. He was also charged with possession of child pornography.
- Juan Sánchez, an illegal alien, was charged with reentry after having been previously removed from the United States in June 2001.
- Ian Carlos De Jesús-Martir was charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, Oxycodone pills; and importation of a controlled substance.
- Francisco Rosario-Escolástico, Jesús Manuel Quiñones-Otero, and Gregory Polanco were charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, attempted possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and obstruction of justice. The defendants are facing a forfeiture allegation of $143,047 in cash, and a Mini-Cooper vehicle.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys José A. Contreras, Ginette Milanes, Marie C. Amy, Jeanette Collazo, Linet Suárez, Juan C. Reyes, John Hutchins, and Desirée Laborde-Sanfiorenzo of the District of Puerto Rico are in charge of the prosecution of the cases. Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Two Individuals Charged with Carjacking, Murder, Firearms Offenses, and Destruction of PropertyRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Today, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment against two defendants charged with the murder of two transgender women, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The four-count indictment includes charges for using a firearm in relation to crimes of violence, carjacking resulting in death, and destruction of property using explosive materials. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) were in charge of the investigation.
The indictment alleges in Counts One and Two, that from April 21 until April 22, 2020, defendants Sean Díaz De León and Juan Carlos Pagán Bonilla, aiding and abetting each other, knowingly used and carried a firearm during and in relation to crimes of violence and in the course of those crimes, caused the deaths of two transgender women, S.A.V.R., and L.P.S., through the use of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c) and 924(j). The crimes of violence underlying the firearms offense charged in Counts One and Two, were a carjacking and a hate crime based on gender, sexual orientation or gender identity, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2119(3) and 249(a)(2)(A).
The indictment further alleges that defendants Díaz de León and Pagán Bonilla shot victims S.A.V.R. and L.P.S., and took their motor vehicle, a white Hyundai Accent, which had been transported, shipped and received in interstate and foreign commerce, by force, violence and intimidation, resulting in death, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2119(3) and 2. The indictment includes a charge of destruction of property using explosives for maliciously damaging and destroying the vehicle by means of fire, all in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 844(i) and 2.
Assistant U.S. Attorney José A. Contreras of the District of Puerto Rico, Special Litigation Counsel Rose Gibson and Trial Attorney Laura Gilson, of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice are in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted, the defendants face up to life in prison or the death penalty. Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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U.S. Attorney Muldrow Recognizes Police WeekRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, PR— In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, and local law enforcement. The week will be observed Sunday, May 10 through Saturday, May 16, 2020.
“There is no more noble profession than serving as a police officer,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “The men and women who protect our communities each day have not just devoted their lives to public service, they’ve taken an oath to give their lives in order to ensure our safety. And they do so not only in the face of hostility from those who reject our nation’s commitment to the rule of law, but also in the face of evolving adversity – such as an unprecedented global health pandemic. This week, I ask all Americans to join me in saying ‘thank you’ to our nation’s federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers. Their devotion and sacrifice to our peace and security will not be taken for granted.”
U.S. Attorney Muldrow stated: “During this week, the Department of Justice celebrates the contributions of police officers from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment in keeping our communities safe. As the United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, I want to acknowledge the work performed by federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, who often face uncertain and dangerous situations without question and without expecting anything in return. We want them to know they have our unwavering support and appreciation. Our jobs as federal prosecutors could not be done without your dedication and support. Thank you.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe. This year the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored law enforcement officers’ courage and unwavering devotion to the communities they swore to serve.
Based on data collected and analyzed by the FBI’s Law Enforcement Officer Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) Program, 89 law enforcement officers died nationwide in the line of duty in 2019, including two officers here in the District of Puerto Rico.
Comprehensive data tables about these incidents and brief narratives describing most of the fatal attacks are included in the sections of Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2019.
The names of the fallen officers who have been added in 2020 to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Memorial will be read on Wednesday, May 13, 2020, during a Virtual Annual Candlelight Vigil. Because public events have been suspended as a result of COVID-19, the vigil will be livestreamed to the public at 8:00 pm (EDT). The online event can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/user/TheNLEOMF.
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Dos Individuos Acusados Por Carjacking Y Usar Un Arma De Fuego Durante Un Crimen Violento Que Resultó En La Muerte De Dos Mujeres TransgéneroRead the Press Release
San Juan, P.R. – El 1 de mayo de 2020, Juan Carlos Pagán Bonilla (Pagán) de 21 años, y Sean Díaz de León (Díaz) de 19 años fueron acusados por medio de una querella en el Tribunal Federal del Distrito de Puerto Rico por usar y portar un arma de fuego durante y en relación con un delito de violencia, en relación con la muerte de dos mujeres transgénero, anunciaron el Fiscal General Auxiliar Eric Dreiband, el Fiscal Federal para el Distrito de Puerto Rico W. Stephen Muldrow y el Director del FBI en Puerto Rico Rafael Riviere. Este caso está siendo investigado por la Policía de Puerto Rico (“POPR”) y el FBI. Pagán y Díaz están bajo custodia federal.
La querella alega que el 22 de abril de 2020, la Policía de Puerto Rico fue informada de un vehículo en llamas en Humacao, Puerto Rico. Cuando los oficiales de POPR respondieron al área, encontraron dos cuerpos quemados dentro del vehículo. El 22 de abril de 2020, los familiares de las personas identificadas en la querella como S.A.V.R. (“Víctima 1”) y L.P.S. (“Víctima 2”) informaron que desaparecieron y mencionaron un video de Snapchat en las redes sociales que muestra a ambas víctimas socializando con dos sujetos la noche anterior.
De acuerdo con la investigación y la inteligencia recibidas por POPR, los dos hombres vistos en el video de Snapchat con las dos víctimas son Díaz y Pagán. El 28 de abril de 2020, POPR detuvo a Pagán en su residencia. Según la información obtenida, los acusados decidieron asesinar a las dos mujeres después de haber compartido con ellas porque se sintieron engañados cuando supieron que ambas eran transgénero.
“Los crímenes de odio son especialmente reprochables debido a los efectos que tienen sobre las víctimas, sus familias, las comunidades que continuamente sufren el discrimen de por razón de su genero u orientación sexual, y nuestro pueblo en general,” dijo W. Stephen Muldrow, Fiscal Federal para el Distrito de Puerto Rico. “Es por esto que la Fiscalía Federal se compromete a utilizar todas las herramientas a su alcance para combatir los delitos motivados por este tipo de intolerancia”.
“Quiero aprovechar la oportunidad para enviar un mensaje a los miembros de la comunidad LBGTTQ. Hemos escuchado sus reclamos y el FBI entiende su angustia. Estamos con ustedes y luchamos con ustedes, porque Puerto Rico es de todos,” dijo el director del FBI en Puerto Rico Rafael Riviere. “Quiero además agradecer a los agentes de la Policía de Puerto Rico, por su gran labor. La cooperación interagencial es clave en estos casos y estamos trabajando juntos para que Puerto Rico sea un lugar seguro para todos y todas”.
Esta investigación sigue en curso. Cualquier persona con información adicional puede llamar al FBI al 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5342).
La Fiscalía Federal solicitó la detención inmediata de los acusados. El Fiscal Federal Auxiliar José A. Contreras del Distrito de Puerto Rico, la Fiscal Senior Rose Gibson y la Fiscal Especial de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia de los Estados Unidos Laura Gilson están a cargo de la investigación del caso. Cada uno de los cargos es elegible a la pena de muerte o hasta vida en prisión. Los cargos contenidos en la querella son sólo alegaciones. Se presume que una persona es inocente a menos y hasta que se demuestre su culpa más allá de duda razonable en un tribunal.
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Justice Department Charges Two Defendants with Carjacking and Carrying a Firearm in Relation to a Crime of Violence in Connection with the Death of Two Transgender IndividualsRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that Juan Carlos Pagán Bonilla (Pagan), 21, and Sean Díaz de León (Diaz), 19, have been charged by a criminal complaint in federal district court with carjacking and with using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence in connection with the death of two transgender individuals. Pagan and Diaz are now in federal custody.
Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband, U.S. Attorney Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Rafael Riviere announced the charges.
This investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5342).
The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Each of the charges is punishable by death or by imprisonment for any number of years up to life.
This case is being investigated by the Police of Puerto Rico and the FBI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office sought immediate detention in this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose A. Contreras of the District of Puerto Rico, and Special Litigation Counsel Rose Gibson and Trial Attorney Laura Gilson of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Man Arrested for Assaulting U.S. Postal Service EmployeeRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – On April 28, 2020, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) agents arrested Wilfredo Fontanez-Reyes for assaulting a federal employee working in the United States Postal Service (USPS) in Comerio, announced United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, W. Stephen Muldrow.
The criminal complaint alleges that on April 28, 2020, the victim was approached by another USPS employee who indicated there was an irate customer, defendant Fontanez-Reyes, who was demanding to speak to postal management about a package. The victim went up to the lobby side door to speak to Fontanez-Reyes. Fontanez-Reyes stated he wanted to pick up a package, but became aggressive when he was told that the package was still being processed due to the high volume of packages at the facility.
The defendant punched the postal employee in the face after being told to return later to pick up the package. The altercation continued outside of the Post Office when the victim stopped Fontanez-Reyes as he fled from the scene. During this second altercation, the defendant kicked the victim in the face. Other postal employees were able to intervene and detain the defendant until Puerto Rico Police agents arrived at the scene and took custody of defendant. The victim received medical care for his injuries.
“There is no excuse for the acts of violence that the defendant inflicted upon a U.S. Postal Service employee engaged in his official duties providing essential services during this pandemic,” said United States Attorney Muldrow. “Our office will not tolerate anyone who assaults a federal employee engaged in their official duties and we will aggressively prosecute these cases.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard T. Passanisi is in charge of the prosecution of this case, and the United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation. If convicted, Fontanez-Reyes could face a maximum penalty of 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 for assaulting a federal employee. Federal criminal complaints contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
El Fiscal Federal de los Estados Unidos advierte sobre las prácticas de los depredadores sexuales relacionadas con COVID-19 y viviendaRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – El Procurador General de los Estados Unidos William P. Barr ordenó a todas las Oficinas de los Fiscales Federales de los Estados Unidos a investigar toda querella de acoso sexual relacionada con vivienda como resultado de la actual pandemia COVID-19, anunció W. Stephen Muldrow, Fiscal Federal de los Estados Unidos para el Distrito de Puerto Rico.
Mientras que Puerto Rico y el resto de los Estados Unidos adoptan medidas drásticas para frenar la propagación de COVID-19, muchos ciudadanos han perdido sus empleos y muchos otros han visto una reducción en sus ingresos. Estas pérdidas han obligado a muchos a buscar reducciones o suspensiones de sus pagos de arrendamiento.
Muchos propietarios han respondido a estas circunstancias comprensivamente y con cuidado, tratando de trabajar con sus inquilinos para ofrecer ayuda durante esta crisis. Sin embargo, se ha reportado que otros propietarios han respondido a las solicitudes de aplazar el pago del alquiler con demandas de favores sexuales y otros actos de conducta sexual no deseada. Tal comportamiento es despreciable y es ilegal.
Desafortunadamente, la mayoría de las víctimas que experimentan este tipo de abuso nunca lo denuncian. Temen que las represalias pongan en peligro su capacidad de proporcionar refugio para ellos y sus familias.
El Fiscal Federal Muldrow declaró: "Las prácticas de los depredadores relacionadas con la COVID-19 son particularmente inquietantes ya que estos propietarios se aprovechan de nuestra crisis nacional actual al hostigar sexualmente a las personas que necesitan vivienda. La Fiscalía Federal no dudará en intervenir cuando ocurra una conducta tan despreciable. Este comportamiento no se tolera en tiempos normales, y ciertamente no se tolerará ahora".
Para denunciar el acoso sexual en la vivienda, comuníquese con el Departamento de Justicia al (800) 896-7743 o [email protected]. Para más información: https://www.justice.gov/crt/sexual-harassment-housing-initiative o en español: https://www.justice.gov/crt-espanol/iniciativa-en-contra-del-acoso-sexual-en-la-vivienda.
La Fiscalía Federal del Distrito de Puerto Rico y el Elder Justice Task Force Lanzan Iniciativa de Pruebas COVID-19 en Hogares de Cuido ProlongadoRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – El Fiscal Federal de los Estados Unidos para el Distrito de Puerto Rico W. Stephen Muldrow y el Elder Justice Task Force (EJTF, por sus siglas en inglés) anunciaron hoy el lanzamiento de una iniciativa de toma de pruebas COVID-19 a todos los residentes y empleados en los hogares y centros de cuido prolongado para adultos mayores de Puerto Rico. Esta iniciativa multi-agencial y multisectorial cubrirá más de 1,000 instalaciones, 28,000 residentes y 9,000 empleados y cuidadores durante las próximas tres semanas. Este esfuerzo ha sido posible con el apoyo del Departamento de Salud de P.R., el Task Force Médico de la Gobernadora de P.R., el Departamento de la Familia de P.R., la Unidad de Control de Fraudes contra Medicaid del Departamento de Justicia de P.R., la Guardia Nacional de P.R., la Oficina del Procurador de Personas de Edad Avanzada, así como los Centros de Salud Federalmente Calificados (Centros 330) participantes, con subvenciones de Direct Relief, una organización humanitaria cuya misión es mejorar la salud y la vida de las personas afectadas por pobreza o emergencias.
Durante las últimas semanas, los miembros del EJTF desarrollaron protocolos y guías para prevenir y contener la propagación de la COVID-19 en los hogares de cuido prolongado de Puerto Rico. Cuando Puerto Rico comenzó con el cierre y la cancelación de visitas en éstas instituciones a mediados de marzo, quedó claro que debía establecerse un protocolo para manejar casos sospechosos de la COVID-19 en los centros de cuido de adultos de edad avanzada. El EJTF, con ayuda de especialistas, desarrolló un algoritmo para manejar casos sospechosos de la COVID-19 en estas instalaciones.
La semana pasada, el Departamento de Salud de P.R. proporcionó 50,000 kits de pruebas rápidas para la iniciativa, que serán respaldados por pruebas moleculares (PCR, por sus siglas en inglés), de conformidad con los protocolos acordados. Hoy lanzamos esta iniciativa en tres hogares de ancianos, y también nos embarcamos en una iniciativa proactiva más amplia con la cooperación de la Guardia Nacional de P.R. Con la asistencia de la Guardia Nacional, esperamos evaluar a todos los residentes y empleados en los hogares de cuido prolongado de Puerto Rico en las próximas tres semanas.
Una vez que la iniciativa se implemente completamente, hasta 100 equipos estarán en el campo diariamente realizando pruebas de la COVID-19. Como parte de la estrategia se ha incorporado una plataforma en línea creada por el Departamento de la Familia de P.R. para ingresar los datos y generar informes con los resultados de las pruebas, al terminar las misiones diarias. La Oficina de Epidemiología del Departamento de Salud de P.R. también ha expresado su compromiso con este esfuerzo, y llevará a cabo el seguimiento de contactos, asesorará a los centros y ayudará con la colocación de los residentes, de ser necesario.
El Fiscal Federal Muldrow declaró: “El bienestar de nuestros ciudadanos de edad avanzada durante esta pandemia es una de nuestras principales prioridades. Elogio los esfuerzos del Elder Justice Task Force y aquellos que se han unido a nuestra misión durante esta emergencia. Su compromiso desinteresado con esta causa es admirable y un testimonio de la resistencia del espíritu humano".
La misión del Elder Justice Task Force es apoyar y coordinar los esfuerzos programáticos y de cumplimiento del Departamento de Justicia Federal para combatir el abuso, la negligencia y el fraude financiero y las estafas que tienen como blanco a las personas de edad avanzada de nuestra nación. Los esfuerzos del Task Force en Puerto Rico están dirigidos por la Coordinadora de EJTF, la Fiscal Federal Auxiliar Jacqueline Novas. Para informar sobre casos sospechosos de la COVID-19 en los hogares de cuido prolongado puede llamar al número de teléfono: (787) 523-0802.
Department of Justice Commemorates National Crime Victims’ Rights WeekRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow joins the Department of Justice and communities nationwide in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, celebrating victims’ rights, protections and services throughout the week. This year’s observance takes place April 19-25 and features the theme, “Seek Justice| Ensure Victims' Rights | Inspire Hope.”
“Every year, millions of Americans suffer the shock and trauma of criminal victimization, affecting their well-being and sense of security and dignity,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “To these victims, we affirm our unwavering commitment to supporting them in their hour of need. We also commend the thousands of victim advocates and public safety professionals who labor tirelessly to secure victims’ rights and support survivors.”
“The District of Puerto Rico has taken important steps to protect those who need it most, and we will continue to do so in the future. Victims of crime must never be forgotten, their experiences and stories of survival strengthen our commitment and resolve to carry out the mission of the Department,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow.
“While we have made tremendous progress driving down crime and violence across the country, far too many Americans continue to suffer the pain and loss of criminal victimization,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Office of Justice Programs. “This week, we stand by these survivors and their families, and we pledge our ongoing support to the countless men and women who serve them with such extraordinary skill and compassion.”
Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first Victims’ Rights Week in 1981, putting crime victims' rights, needs, and concerns in a prominent spot on the American agenda. He also established the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime, which laid the groundwork for a national network of services and legal safeguards for crime victims. President Trump and his administration have implemented historic levels of support for victim assistance and victim compensation.
Some 3.3 million Americans age 12 and older were victims of violent crime in 2018, according to the National Crime Victimization Survey. The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), part of the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs, supports more than 7,000 local victim assistance programs and victim compensation programs in every state and U.S. territory. Funds for these programs come from the Crime Victims Fund, which is made up of federal criminal fines, penalties and bond forfeitures.
During National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, victim advocacy organizations, community groups and state, local and tribal agencies traditionally host rallies, candlelight vigils, and other events to raise awareness of victims’ rights and services. This year, many communities are organizing virtual gatherings and online public awareness campaigns.
This year’s commemoration began yesterday, 25 years to the day when a truck bomb exploded in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, taking the lives of 168 people, including 19 children, as well as injuring hundreds of others. The mass murder remains the worst act of domestic terrorism in our nation’s history and led to the establishment of the Antiterrorism Emergency Reserve, which is administered by OVC, and has been used to provide direct services to hundreds of victims of mass violence and terrorism.
“Crime victims deserve to know that they have the encouragement and support of the American people,” said OVC Director Jessica E. Hart. “I hope that citizens throughout the nation will take the opportunity this week to remember all victims of crime and their heroic stories of survival. I encourage everyone to also find meaningful ways to express their appreciation to the many committed and compassionate service providers across the country who work tirelessly supporting these survivors.”
This year, the annual National Crime Victims’ Service Awards Ceremony will be postponed until a time when we can honor this year’s award recipients in person. During the ceremony, OVC will present awards recognizing individuals and organizations from across the nation for their outstanding service on behalf of crime victims. The awardees will be selected from public nominations in 11 categories, including federal service, special courage, public policy, and victim services. Visit www.ovc.gov/gallery to learn more about past recipients.
For more information on how to create your own public campaigns to raise awareness about crime victims’ rights online and at events throughout the year, please visit: https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw2020/overview.html.
Puerto Rico U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Elder Justice Task Force Launch Nursing Home Testing InitiativeRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – Puerto Rico U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow and the Elder Justice Task Force (EJTF) announced today the launch of an island-wide COVID-19 testing initiative for all residents and employees in Puerto Rico’s long-term care facilities. This multi-agency, multi-sectoral initiative will cover over 1,000 facilities, 28,000 residents, and 9,000 employees and caregivers during the next three weeks. This effort has been possible with the support of the P.R. Department of Health, the P.R. Governor’s Medical Task Force, the P.R. Family Affairs Department, the P.R. Department of Justice’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the P.R. National Guard, the P.R. Office of the Ombudsman for the Elderly, as well as the participating Federally Qualified Health Centers (330 Centers), with grants from Direct Relief, a humanitarian organization whose mission is to improve the health and lives of those affected by poverty or emergencies.
The members of the EJTF have spent the past weeks developing protocols and guidelines to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19 in Puerto Rico’s long-term care facilities. As Puerto Rico entered lock-down and cancellation of visits in nursing homes in mid-March, it became clear that a protocol had to be set in place to handle suspected cases of COVID-19 in nursing homes. The EJTF, with the help of specialists, developed an algorithm to handle suspected cases of COVID-19 in these facilities.
Last week, the P.R. Department of Health provided 50,000 rapid test kits for the initiative, which will be backed up by molecular (PCR) testing, pursuant to the agreed upon protocols. Today we launch this initiative in three long-term care facilities, and we also embark on a larger proactive initiative with the assistance of the P.R. National Guard. With the help of the P.R. National Guard, we expect to test all seniors and employees in Puerto Rico’s nursing homes within the next three weeks.
Once the initiative is fully implemented, up to 100 teams per day will be in the field conducting COVID-19 testing. The strategy has incorporated an online platform created by the P.R. Family Affairs Department to input data and generate reports with testing results, at the end of each day’s missions. The P.R. Department of Health’s Epidemiology Office has also pledged its support for this effort, and will conduct contact tracing as well as provide counseling to nursing facilities and assist with placement of residents, if needed.
U.S. Attorney Muldrow stated, "The well-being of our senior citizens during this pandemic is one of our top priorities. I commend the efforts of the Elder Justice Task Force and those who have joined our mission during this emergency. Their selfless commitment to this cause is humbling and a testament to the resiliency of the human spirit."
The mission of the Elder Justice Initiative is to support and coordinate the Department’s enforcement and programmatic efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect, and financial fraud and scams that target our nation’s seniors. The efforts of Puerto Rico’s Elder Justice Task Force are led by EJI Coordinator, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Novas. Suspected cases of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities should be reported to the following number: (787) 523-0802.
Artículo De Opinion: El Fiscal Federal Exhorta Al Publico A Denunciar Fraudes Relacionados Con La Covid-19Read the Press Release
La Oficina del Fiscal Federal de los Estados Unidos para el Distrito de Puerto Rico y todos los oficiales de ley y orden federal están coordinando sus esfuerzos para evitar que los ciudadanos de Puerto Rico sean víctimas de fraudes y otros actos ilegales durante la pandemia de coronavirus, e investigarán y procesarán todos los casos de fraudes y esquemas relacionados con el coronavirus. En el día de hoy hemos circulado a nuestros fiscales y a las agencias de ley y orden federal unas guías de procesamiento criminal específicas para los delitos relacionados a la COVID-19.
Lamentablemente, muchos ciudadanos son víctimas de esquemas de fraude todos los días. Nuestras oficinas están trabajando para investigar y procesar todos los esquemas relacionados con el coronavirus que están diseñados para defraudar a los ciudadanos de Puerto Rico y aprovecharse del miedo que naturalmente puedan tener a contagiarse con esta terrible enfermedad. Nuestra misión es asegurarnos de que todos los residentes de Puerto Rico estén a salvo de los criminales que pretenden enriquecerse ilegalmente durante estos tiempos difíciles.
Aunque esta crisis ha demostrado la valentía, amor y heroísmo de la mayoría de los que viven en Puerto Rico, siempre habrá algunas personas que intentarán obtener ganancias durante un momento de emergencia. Nuestras oficinas no tolerarán a quienes explotan el miedo de nuestros ciudadanos más vulnerables. Juntos protegeremos la seguridad de nuestra isla durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Estaremos atentos para detectar, investigar y procesar cualquier esquema de fraude relacionado con el coronavirus. Y, a medida que la isla se recupere del daño causado por el huracán María y los temblores del 6 y 7 de enero, nuestras oficinas también coordinarán para investigar y enjuiciar a cualquier persona que lleve a cabo esquemas de fraude relacionados con los esfuerzos de socorro en casos de desastre.
Desafortunadamente, durante los tiempos difíciles, los criminales intentan aprovecharse de las víctimas desprevenidas. Queremos que estos criminales sepan que no se tolerará que se aprovechen de ésta crisis. Cualquier intento de hacerlo será investigado y procesado rápidamente. Para enfrentar los esquemas de fraude relacionados con el coronavirus, el Fiscal General de los Estados Unidos William Barr ha ordenado a los fiscales federales de los Estados Unidos y sus oficinas a priorizar las investigaciones y el enjuiciamiento de los esquemas de fraude relacionados con el coronavirus.
Hemos actuado rápidamente para identificar y atajar posibles vías de fraude. Una vía de fraude que estamos evaluando activamente es el acaparamiento de artículos médicos vitales y equipos de protección personal, incluidas máscaras faciales N-95, máscaras quirúrgicas y guantes, y dispositivos desinfectantes, con el fin de revender estos artículos para obtener ganancias inesperadas a expensas de la seguridad pública, salud y bienestar de nuestros conciudadanos. El acaparamiento y el aumento de precios frustran los heroicos esfuerzos de nuestros profesionales de la salud que luchan contra esta pandemia.
Del mismo modo, no toleraremos casos de fraude, incluida la venta de kits de prueba falsos de coronavirus, fraudes en las redes sociales, correos electrónicos de phishing que soliciten dinero, esquemas de medicamentos recetados o cualquier otro intento de aprovecharse de la vulnerabilidad de nuestros ciudadanos. No podemos permitir, y no permitiremos, que los oportunistas generen temor en nuestros ciudadanos. Todos podemos ser víctimas potenciales de estos criminales. Sin embargo, tengan la seguridad de que nuestras oficinas investigarán y procesarán a cualquier persona que explote o intente explotar a nuestros ciudadanos vulnerables durante esta crisis.
Solicitamos su ayuda para informar cualquier comportamiento sospechoso. Si sospecha de fraude relacionado con el coronavirus o los esfuerzos de ayuda en caso de desastre relacionados con los temblores de enero, infórmelo a través del enlace en el Centro Nacional para el Fraude de Desastres (NCDF) https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/webform/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form o la Línea Directa de NCDF al 866-720-5721. Los informes de sospecha de aumento de precios deben incluir detalles del nombre y la ubicación del comerciante, fecha y hora de compra, método de pago, recibos, precio del artículo en días previos al aumento repentino de precios y el precio que pagó. Informe a sus familias y vecinos sobre nuestros esfuerzos de prevención de fraude y que haremos nuestra parte para investigar y procesar las irregularidades.
Puedes encontrar más información sobre estos esquemas de fraude en los siguentes enlaces:
- https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus
- https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud
- https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
- https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/webform/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
Cómo Evitar Fraudes Relacionados Al CoronavirusRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – El Fiscal Federal de los Estados Unidos para el Distrito de Puerto Rico W. Stephen Muldrow hoy les exhorta a todos los ciudadanos de Puerto Rico que estén en alerta a los criminales que se aprovechan del miedo y la incertidumbre que ocasiona la enfermedad de coronavirus (COVID-19) para robar dinero y obtener información personal.
Se incluye un boletín con la información necesaria para prevenir e identificar fraudes relacionados al coronavirus y otros tipos de fraudes que ocurren en situaciones similares. Para más información también puede acceder a https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Para más información:
- https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud
- https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
- https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/webform/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
- https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus
Puerto Rico U.S. Attorney’s Office and IRS Criminal Investigation Warn Taxpayers to be Alert for Scams Related to Covid-19 Economic Impact PaymentsRead the Press Release
San Juan, Puerto Rico – Puerto Rico U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow and Special Agent in Charge Michael J. De Palma of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) today warned taxpayers to be alert about possible scams relating to COVID-19, especially in connection with economic impact payments. The announcement is an effort to prevent taxpayers in need from being victimized by criminals using the recently approved payments as an opportunity to commit a crime.
U.S. Attorney Muldrow stated, "Our office and our law enforcement partners are committed to bringing to justice fraudsters who are preying on vulnerable citizens during this unprecedented public health crisis. We will also continue our outreach efforts to make the public aware of scams and frauds. I urge citizens to remain vigilant and to be skeptical of any telephone calls, e-mails, or websites that request personal information or banking information, while promising money or services that seem too good to be true."
Michael J. De Palma Special Agent in Charge of the IRS-CI Miami Field Office warned, "Even as our Nation is enduring a State of Emergency, criminals will continue to engage in heinous acts to further enrich themselves demonstrating no sympathy by exploiting you during your most difficult circumstance."
In a matter of weeks, COVID-19 economic impact payments will be on their way. For most Americans, this will be a direct deposit into your bank account. For the unbanked individuals who have traditionally received tax refunds via paper check, they will receive their economic impact payment through the mail. The Treasury Department from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico will also be providing assistance to individuals and small businesses via checks and direct deposits.
Scammers may try to get you to sign over your check to them or get you to "verify" your filing information in order to steal your money. Your personal information could then be used to file false tax returns in an identity theft scheme. Because of this, everyone receiving a COVID-19 economic impact payments is at risk.
U.S. Attorney Muldrow offers the following information and tips to spot a scam and understand how the COVID-19 related economic impact payments will be issued.
- The IRS or Puerto Rico Treasury Department will deposit your payment into the direct deposit account you previously provided on your tax return (or, in the alternative, send you a paper check).
- The IRS or the Puerto Rico Treasury Department will NOT call and ask you to verify your payment details. Do NOT give your bank account number, debit account number, or PayPal account information to anyone—even if someone claims it is necessary to get your check. This is a scam.
- If you receive a call, do NOT engage with scammers, even if you want to tell them that you know it is a scam. Just hang up.
- If you receive texts or e-mails claiming that you can get your money faster by sending personal identifying information or clicking on links, delete these texts and e-mails. Do NOT click on any links in those texts or e-mails.
- There are many reports about fake checks. If you receive a "check" in the mail now, it is a scam. It will take the U.S. Treasury Department a few more weeks to mail out the COVID-19 economic impact payments. If you receive a "check" for an odd amount (especially one with cents), or a check that requires you to verify the check online or by calling a number, it is a scam.
In these uncertain and trying times, we need to remain vigilant. Please help law enforcement protect your community by telling family, friends, and elderly neighbors to be on the lookout for these potential scams. You work hard for your money, do NOT become a victim of these scams. If something sounds too good to be true, it is probably fraudulent.
For more information, visit the IRS website at www.irs.gov/coronavirus or DOJ’s website at https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
- https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud
- https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
- https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/webform/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
Department of Justice Makes $850 Million Available to Help Public Safety Agencies Address Covid-19 PandemicRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – The Department of Justice today announced that it is making $850 million available to help public safety agencies respond to the challenges posed by the outbreak of COVID-19. The Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, authorized by the recent stimulus legislation signed by President Trump, will allow eligible state, local and tribal governments to apply immediately for these critical funds. The department is moving quickly to make awards, with the goal of having funds available for drawdown within days of the award.
“The US Attorney’s Office and our federal and state law enforcement partners are working tirelessly, investigating cases, and making arrests even during these trying times,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow. “These funds made available by Congress will help us continue to fight for the citizens of Puerto Rico to protect them from criminals who threaten their safety.”
“This is an unprecedented moment in our nation’s history and an especially dangerous one for our front-line law enforcement officers, corrections officials, and public safety professionals,” said Office of Justice Programs Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “We are grateful to the Congress for making these resources available and for the show of support this program represents.”
The solicitation, posted by the Bureau of Justice Assistance in the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), will remain open for at least 60 days and be extended as necessary. OJP will fund successful applicants as a top priority on a rolling basis as applications are received. Funds may be used to hire personnel, pay overtime costs, cover protective equipment and supplies, address correctional inmates’ medical needs and defray expenses related to the distribution of resources to hard-hit areas, among other activities. Grant funds may be applied retroactively to Jan. 20, 2020, subject to federal supplanting rules.
Agencies that were eligible for the fiscal year 2019 State and Local Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program are candidates for this emergency funding. A complete list of eligible jurisdictions and their allocations can be found at https://bja.ojp.gov/program/fy20-cesf-allocations.
For more information about the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding program, please visit https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-18553. For more information about the Office of Justice Programs, please visit https://www.ojp.gov/.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Abel Nazario-Quinones, PR Senator and Former Mayor of Yauco Found Guilty for False Statements and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – After a twelve-day jury trial, Abel Nazario-Quiñones, senator and former mayor of the municipality of Yauco, Puerto Rico, was found guilty of 23 counts of false statements and 5 counts of wire fraud, announced United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow. United States District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante presided over the trial. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the FBI were in charge of the investigation.
On February 1, 2019, a 37-count superseding indictment charged Senator Abel Nazario-Quiñones with making false statements and wire fraud. According to the superseding indictment, in May 2013, during a routine audit of the Municipality’s records, the PR Comptroller’s Office discovered that municipal employees were required to work two voluntary hours per day. This issue was referred to the DOL Wage and Hour Division (WHD), which determined that this voluntary work requirement was a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
In February 2015, Nazario-Quiñones signed a Back Wage Compliance Payment Agreement with the DOL Wage and Hour Division in which he agreed to pay back wages totaling $588,961.43 to 177 municipal employees for the period of August 1, 2012 to July 31, 2014 according to a predetermined schedule listing each employee who was owed wages, the amount they were owed, and the date by which each employee had to be paid. The Agreement allowed the Municipality until February 2018 to complete all the payments.
In August 2016, during their next routine audit of the Municipality’s records, the PR Comptroller’s Office learned that, although employees had been receiving lump sum payments according to the terms of the Agreement, the Municipality unilaterally began withholding the employees’ regular wages without the knowledge or consent of the DOL WHD. This issue was referred to the DOL WHD who, in November 2016, referred it to the DOL Office of Inspector General (OIG).
The DOL OIG ultimately identified 30 contract municipal employees who, by the end of his mayoral term in 2016, Nazario-Quiñones had certified were paid their back wages pursuant to the Agreement. The DOL OIG also determined that those 30 contract municipal employees, after receiving the wages to which they were entitled under the Agreement, had their regular pay with-held for certain periods of time at the direction of Nazario-Quiñones while he provided various explanations to the employees as to why they were receiving these lump sum checks.
During trial, the government was able to prove that Nazario-Quiñones falsely certified to the Department of Labor that he had paid back wages to the employees, according to the terms of the Agreement, and that he had retaliated against the employees for accepting the payment by directing the payroll department to withhold future earnings of these employees for varying lengths of time, despite their continued work for the municipality. The government was also able to prove that the defendant committed wire fraud as some of the forms used to certify the payments to the DOL WHD were sent via email.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Scott Anderson and Myriam Fernandez, and investigated by Special Agent Frances Agenjo from the DOL-OIG with assistance from Special Agent David Torres from the FBI and Virgilio Pabon from the Puerto Rico Office of the Comptroller. The defendant could face a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, and a fine not to exceed $1,000,000. The sentencing is scheduled for July 20, 2020.
U.S. Attorney Urges the Public to Report Suspected COVID-19 FraudRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico today urged the public to report suspected fraud schemes related to COVID-19 (the Coronavirus) by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) hotline (1-866-720-5721) or the NCDF's on-line portal for complaints at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/webform/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
In coordination with the Department of Justice, Attorney General William Barr has directed U.S. Attorneys to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of Coronavirus fraud schemes. The NCDF Hotline can receive and enter complaints into a centralized system that can be accessed by all U.S. Attorneys, as well as Justice Department litigating and law enforcement components to identify, investigate and prosecute fraud schemes.
"We will join efforts with our law enforcement partners to detect, investigate and prosecute those who choose to exploit the coronavirus national emergency to perpetrate fraudulent and illegal schemes, and we will advocate on behalf of the victims of these offenses. Even in the midst of this national emergency, we will continue protecting the public from these and other offenses," said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow.
Some examples of these schemes include:
- Individuals and businesses selling fake cures for COVID-19 online and engaging in other forms of fraud.
- Phishing emails from entities posing as the World Health Organization or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Malicious websites and apps that appear to share Coronavirus-related information to gain and lock access to your devices until payment is received.
- Seeking donations fraudulently for illegitimate or non-existent charitable organizations.
- Medical providers obtaining patient information for COVID-19 testing and then using that information to fraudulently bill for other tests and procedures.
In a memorandum to U.S. Attorneys issued March 19, Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen also directed each U.S. Attorney to appoint a Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator to serve as the legal counsel for the federal judicial district on matters relating to the Coronavirus, direct the prosecution of Coronavirus-related crimes, and to conduct outreach and awareness activities. The District of Puerto Rico Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator is Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacqueline D. Novas.
The NCDF can receive and enter complaints into a centralized system that can be accessed by all U.S. Attorneys, as well as Justice Department litigating and law enforcement components to identify, investigate and prosecute fraud schemes. The NCDF coordinates complaints with 16 additional federal law enforcement agencies, as well as state Attorneys General and local authorities.
We encourage the public to visit the following websites:
- https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus
- https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud
- https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
- https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/webform/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form
Individual Indicted and Arrested for Bank Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. - On March 13, FBI agents arrested Wilson Nieves-Santiago who is facing 27 counts of bank fraud and two counts of money laundering, announced United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, W. Stephen Muldrow.
The indictment alleges that defendant Nieves-Santiago, starting in or around the year 2015, became a caretaker of C.B.R., and elderly female, and her late husband, M.L.R., in Dorado, Puerto Rico, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As part of his responsibilities, Nieves-Santiago would drive C.B.R., run errands, assist her in cleaning, paying bills, and depositing checks. The defendant had online access to C.B.R.’s bank accounts and credit cards, and would pay the victim’s expenses with them.
On or about April 29, 2015, Nieves-Santiago opened a joint bank account with C.B.R. at PNC Bank. This particular account was managed and controlled solely by the defendant. The indictment charges that Nieves-Santiago began diverting monies belonging to C.B.R. to the joint bank account in February of 2018. The defendant was entitled to salary of $2,170 every two weeks, paid from a trust account. As part of the scheme, Nieves-Santiago would sometimes transfer funds, or endorse checks for an additional $2,170 from C.B.R.’s account without her authorization, in an effort to conceal the payment and make it appear as if it were part of the defendant’s regular salary. Nieves-Santiago electronically transferred large sums of money from C.B.R.’s account into the PNC Bank account he controlled without the victim’s authorization.
Counts one through 24 include the checks that Nieves-Santiago deposited into the account he solely controlled, for a total of $170,867.63. Counts 25 and 26 are the money laundering charges that include two electronic transfers deposited into the same account for a total of $86,000.
Defendant Nieves-Santiago is facing a bank fraud and money laundering forfeiture allegation that includes $261,007.63; a two-door 2018 ford Mustang Coupe; and a white 2018 Hyundai Accent coupe.
“The egregious behavior of those who exploit our banking system or its clients for personal and criminal gain will not be tolerated,” said United States Attorney Muldrow. “We will continue to aggressively pursue criminals who victimize and financially exploit our senior citizens.”
“Bank fraud and money laundering come in many different forms. Here it came in the form of a cruel violation of the trust two elderly persons put in the defendant. The FBI is appalled by this behavior and is committed to continue in pursuit of these criminal actors in collaboration with the United States Attorney’s Office and our local state and federal law enforcement partners.” - said Rafael A. Riviere Vázquez, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Juan Field Office.
If convicted, Nieves-Santiago could face a maximum penalty of 30 years of imprisonment and a fine of $1,000,000 for the bank fraud charges, and a maximum penalty of up to 10 years of imprisonment for the money laundering charges. Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The prosecution of this case is assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward G. Veronda.
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Former Music Teacher Sentenced to 10 Years for Child ExploitationRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Juan Manuel Rivera-Vázquez, a music teacher and former keyboard player of a children’s music group, was sentenced on March 11, 2020, by U.S District Judge Francisco A. Besosa to a term of 10 years in prison, to be served concurrently with a 15-year sentence imposed in State Court, announced United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico W. Stephen Muldrow.
Juan Manuel Rivera-Vázquez was charged in a one-count indictment by a federal grand jury in May 2019 with coercion and enticement of minors following a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force’s (PRCACTF) probe. He was arrested by HSI special agents on May 24, 2019, and pleaded guilty to the charge on August 6, 2019.
“This sentence should serve as a sobering warning about the consequences facing child sexual predators who mistakenly believe they can elude detection by coercing their victims,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to continuing its collaboration with our state, local and federal partners to locate these offenders and ensure that they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Sexual exploitation is one of the most depraved crimes committed against humanity, and this case is especially disturbing given Rivera-Vázquez’s position of trust,” said Ivan J. Arvelo, special agent in charge for HSI San Juan “This sentence serves as a reminder that HSI is committed to collaborating with its community partners to bring to justice those who exploit children.”
Assistant United States Attorney Elba Gorbea and Deputy Chief of the Immigration, Cybercrimes, and Child Exploitation Unit, Nicholas Cannon, were in charge of the prosecution of the case.
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Former FEMA Employee Pleads Guilty to FelonyRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – Jovanda R. Paterson, a.k.a. “Jo/Jojo,” a former FEMA Emergency Management Specialist pleaded guilty pursuant to a Plea Agreement before United States District Court Judge Francisco A. Besosa to a felony violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 208(a), announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Inspector General (OIG), conducted the investigation with support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Following the passage of Hurricane María in September 2017, Patterson was assigned to assist with FEMA restoration efforts in Puerto Rico. While employed by FEMA, Patterson negotiated prospective employment with Cobra Acquisitions LLC (Cobra) and its affiliates, which were engaged in restoration efforts on the Puerto Rico electric power grid. While negotiating prospective employment with Cobra, Patterson participated as a FEMA employee in a May 8, 2018 Past Performance Evaluation for Cobra Logistics LLC as a part of a vendor bid process. Patterson later accepted employment with a Cobra affiliate in June 2018.
Pursuant to the terms of the Plea Agreement, Patterson admitted that while she was negotiating employment with COBRA and its affiliates from March to July 2018, Patterson participated as a FEMA employee in a May 8, 2018 Past Performance Evaluation for Cobra Logistics LLC as a part of a vendor bid process. The defendant willfully engaged in conduct and participated personally and substantially as a Government employee through recommendation and the rendering of advice in a proceeding in which she knew COBRA and its affiliates Cobra Energy LLC and Cobra Logistics Holding LLC had a financial interest, and that at that time, she was negotiating and had an arrangement concerning prospective employment with COBRA and its affiliates.
Patterson was charged in a 15-count indictment along with defendants Ahsha Nateef Tribble - Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Region II, Deputy Regional Administrator, assigned to work in Puerto Rico as part of FEMA’s response to Hurricane María; and Donald Keith Ellison - President of Cobra Acquisitions, LLC until June 2019. The indictment alleges that Tribble and Ellison engaged in a bribery conspiracy, honest services fraud scheme, and major disaster fraud scheme in relation to the electric power grid restoration efforts in Puerto Rico following Hurricane María. Trial as to Tribble and Ellison is scheduled for January 2021.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Myriam Y. Fernández-González and Assistant United States Attorney Seth A. Erbe. Patterson may be sentenced to a term of imprisonment not to exceed five (5) years, a fine not to exceed Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00), and not more than three (3) years of supervised release. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 11, 2020.
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Two Individuals Indicted and Arrested for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Misuse of Social Security NumberRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – On February 27, 2020, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment against Gilberto J. Meléndez-Colón and Ángel M. Pagán-Vélez, charging them with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and misuse of Social Security Number. Meléndez-Colón is also facing 11 counts of money laundering, announced United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow. The Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General (“SSA-OIG”) and Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) are in charge of the investigation.
The indictment charges that from on or about January 4, 2012, and continuing through on or about July 24, 2017, the defendants and other co-conspirators did knowingly and willfully conspire and agree to devise a scheme and artifice to defraud Unique Builders, Inc., a family business engaged in short and long-term construction and improvement projects. For purposes of executing the scheme and artifice to defraud, the defendants and co-conspirators caused to be transmitted by means of wire communications in interstate commerce certain signals and sounds contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343.
During the time covered by the indictment, Meléndez-Colón was the Accounting Officer in charge of Unique Builders’ payroll. The company’s payroll accounting system is operated, in part, by the Web Cash Manager of Banco Popular of Puerto Rico (hereinafter “Web Cash Manager Program”). The Web Cash Manager Program is an accounting system used by Unique Builders in part to make direct deposits to employees. Pagán-Vélez was a friend of Meléndez-Colón, and he never worked at Unique Builders.
The indictment alleges that Meléndez-Colón created profiles or accounts for two fictitious employees in the Web Cash Manager Program. As part of the fraud scheme, Pagán-Vélez disclosed his social security number to Meléndez-Colón. Meléndez-Colón would use Pagán-Vélez’ name and social security number to create a fictitious employee profile in Unique Builders’ Web Cash Manager Program. Meléndez-Colón would also use the name and social security number assigned to J.A.A. to create another fictitious employee profile in Unique Builders’ Web Cash Manager Program. In total, Meléndez-Colón created two fictitious employee profiles in Unique Builders’ Web Cash Program, using the identities of Pagán-Vélez and J.A.A.
While creating the fictitious employee profile for Pagán-Vélez in the Web Cash Manager Program, Meléndez-Colón listed his own Banco Popular of Puerto Rico account number to receive direct deposits. As part of the fictitious employee profile for J.A.A. in the Web Cash Manager Program, Meléndez-Colón listed his own Cooperativa San José account number to receive direct deposits.
The indictment also alleges that Meléndez-Colón altered Unique Builders’ payroll information by, among others, fictitiously increasing the hours worked by regular employees. Meléndez-Colón would then submit the altered and fraudulent payroll information to management for approval. Once Meléndez-Colón got approval to process the payroll, he would divert monies through the Web Cash Manager Program to the bank accounts assigned to the two fictitious employees. From January 2012 through July 2017, Meléndez-Colón diverted approximately $1,223,654.21 as part of the unlawful conspiracy.
As part of the conspiracy, Unique Builders would generate Forms W-2, Withholding Statements for the payments made to the fictitious employees. For the years 2012 through 2016, Pagán-Vélez would use his social security number to file Income Tax Returns, attaching the W-2’s, Withholding Statements, generated as part of the fraud scheme. Defendant Meléndez-Colón is also facing one count of aggravated identity theft and a forfeiture allegation of $1,223,654.21.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Social Security Administration Vanessa D. Bonano-Rodríguez. If convicted, the defendants could face a maximum penalty of 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of not more than $250,000.00 for the conspiracy, and up to 5 years for the misuse of Social Security number. In addition to those possible sentences, Meléndez-Colón is facing up to 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of not more than $500,000.00 or twice the value of the property involved in the transactions, whichever is greater, for the money laundering counts, and two mandatory consecutive years of imprisonment for the aggravated identity theft count.
Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Department of Justice Charges Unprecedented Number of Elder Fraud Defendants Nationwide and Launches HotlineRead the Press Release
San Juan, Puerto Rico – U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of District of Puerto Rico joined Attorney General William P. Barr, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray, and Chief Postal Inspector Gary R. Barksdale today in announcing the largest coordinated sweep of elder fraud cases in history. This year, prosecutors charged more than 400 defendants, far surpassing the 260 defendants charged in cases as part of last year’s sweep. In each case, offenders allegedly engaged in financial schemes that targeted or largely affected seniors. In total, the charged elder fraud schemes caused alleged losses of over a billion dollars.
Six defendants were charged in the District of Puerto Rico as part of the nationwide elder fraud sweep. In a 35-count indictment defendants Luz M. Santiago-Torres, Jimmy E. Santiago-Burgos, Félix Rosa-Rosa, José Rivera-Esparra, and Ulises Feliciano-Caraballo were charged with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, 10 counts of mail fraud, 11 counts of wire fraud, six counts of aggravated identity theft, and seven counts of money laundering. Twelve of the victims of this scheme were seniors. In a separate three-count indictment, Johana Torres-Figueroa was charged with fraud in connection with a major disaster or emergency benefits, making false statements to an agency of the United States, and aggravated identity theft of an unsuspected elder victim. Both cases are ongoing.
“Americans are fed up with the constant barrage of scams that maliciously target the elderly and other vulnerable citizens,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “This year, the Department of Justice prosecuted more than 400 defendants, whose schemes totaled more than a billion dollars. I want to thank the men and women of the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch, which coordinated this effort, and all those in the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and Criminal Division who worked tirelessly to bring these cases. The Department is committed to stopping the full range of criminal activities that exploit America’s seniors.”
U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow stated: “Our office will not stand by as criminals attempt to fleece a very vulnerable group of our community, our senior citizens. These criminals disrupt their lives by stealing their life savings and destroying their credit through calculated and pervasive fraud schemes. Our prosecutors are coordinating with both federal and state law enforcement partners and to stop these criminals from exploiting and abusing our seniors.”
This interactive map provides information on the elder fraud cases highlighted by today’s sweep announcement.
Elder Fraud Hotline
Attorney General Barr also announced the launch of a National Elder Fraud Hotline, which will provide services to seniors who may be victims of financial fraud. The Hotline will be staffed by experienced case managers who can provide personalized support to callers. Case managers will assist callers with reporting the suspected fraud to relevant agencies and by providing resources and referrals to other appropriate services as needed. When applicable, case managers will complete a complaint form with the Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for Internet-facilitated crimes and submit a consumer complaint to the Federal Trade Commission on behalf of the caller. The Hotline’s toll free number is 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).
For the second year, the Department of Justice and its law enforcement partners also took comprehensive action against the money mule network that facilitates foreign-based elder fraud. Generally, perpetrators use a “money mule” to transfer fraud proceeds from a victim to ringleaders of fraud schemes who often reside in other countries. Some of these money mules act unwittingly, and intervention can effectively end their involvement in the fraud. The FBI and the Postal Inspection Service took action against over 600 alleged money mules nationwide by conducting interviews, issuing warning letters, and bringing civil and criminal cases. Agents and prosecutors in more than 85 federal district participated in this effort to halt the money flow from victim to fraudster. These actions against money mules were in addition to the criminal and civil cases announced as part of this year’s elder fraud sweep.
These outreach efforts have helped to prevent seniors from falling prey to scams and have frustrated offenders’ efforts to obtain even more money from vulnerable elders.
The charges announced today are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Justice Department Settles Disability-Based Housing Discrimination Lawsuits with Owners and Developers of 11 Apartment Complexes in Puerto RicoRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that the owners and developers of 11 multi-family housing complexes in Puerto Rico, whose buildings include more than 650 rental units, have agreed to pay a combined $335,000 to resolve claims that they violated the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act by building apartment complexes that were inaccessible to persons with disabilities. As part of the settlement, the companies also agreed to make substantial retrofits to remove accessibility barriers.
Two separate consent orders, which must still be approved by the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, resolve the government’s lawsuits filed with the court along with the consent orders against Puerto Rico-based developers Fernando L. Sumaza & Co. Inc. and Star Management Corp. and their affiliated companies. Under the terms of the settlements, the defendants must take extensive corrective actions to make the complexes accessible to persons with disabilities. These corrective actions include replacing excessively sloped portions of sidewalks, installing properly sloped curb ramps and walkways to allow persons with disabilities to access units from sidewalks and parking areas, replacing cabinets in bathrooms and kitchens to provide sufficient room for wheelchair users, and removing accessibility barriers in public and common use areas at the complexes. The defendants will pay a combined $325,000 to establish two settlement funds for the purpose of compensating individuals with disabilities who have been impacted by the accessibility violations. A $10,000 civil penalty also will be paid to the United States.
“The Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability and guarantee the rights of disabled individuals to access housing of their choice,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to aggressively enforce these laws to ensure that residential multi-family housing is built with the required accessible features.”
“Access to housing free from discrimination is a right afforded to all Americans and is crucial to the development of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico. “This settlement is an example of our office’s continuing efforts to enforce anti-discrimination laws that protect those rights.”
The Consent Orders also require the defendants to receive training about the Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act to ensure that all future multifamily housing construction complies with these laws and to provide periodic reports to the Justice Department.
The 11 complexes at issue, all of which were built with financial assistance from the federal government’s Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program or other federal programs, are:
Fernando L. Sumaza & Co., Inc. Affiliated Properties
- La Inmaculada Elderly, San Juan, PR
- Marie Gardens, Cabo Rojo, PR
- San Cristobal, San Juan, PR
- San Fernando Elderly Center, Mayagüez, PR
- Virgen del Pozo, Sabana Grande, PR
Star Management Corp. Affiliated Properties
- Florida Elderly, Florida, PR
- Isabela Elderly, Isabela, PR
- Monserrate Elderly, PR
- Morovis Elderly, PR
- Patillas Elderly, Patillas, PR
- Sunrise Elderly, San Juan, PR
Those who are entitled to share in the settlement funds will be identified through a process established in the Consent Orders. Persons who believe they may have been harmed by the inaccessible conditions at any of these properties, either when they or someone associated with them lived there or considered living there, should contact the Justice Department. For Fernando L. Sumaza & Co., Inc. affiliated properties, call toll-free at 1-800-896-7743 mailbox #9996, or e-mail at [email protected]. For Star Management affiliated properties, call toll free at 1-800-896-7743 mailbox #3, or e-mail at [email protected].
The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on disability, race, color, religion, national origin, sex and familial status. Among other things, the Fair Housing Act requires all multifamily housing constructed after March 13, 1991, to have basic accessibility features, including accessible routes without steps to all ground floor units, and units accessible to wheelchair users and others with disabilities. Enacted in 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act requires, among other things, that places of public accommodation, such as rental offices at multifamily housing complexes designed and constructed for first occupancy after Jan. 26, 1993, be accessible to persons with disabilities.
Fair housing enforcement is a priority of the Civil Rights Division. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at http://www.justice.gov/crt.
El Departamento de Justicia Resuelve Denuncias Motivadas por Discriminación en la Vivienda Basada en una Discapacidad con Propietarios y Promotores Inmobiliarions de 11 Complejos de Apartamentos en Puerto RicoRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que los propietarios y promotores inmobiliarios de 11 complejos de vivienda multifamiliares en Puerto Rico, cuyos edificios incluyen más de 650 unidades de alquiler, han acordado pagar un total combinado de $335.000 con el fin de resolver denuncias de que ellos habían vulnerado la ley de Vivienda Justa y la ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades al construir complejos de apartamentos que no eran accesibles para personas con discapacidades. Como parte del acuerdo, las compañías también acordaron realizar readaptaciones sustanciales para eliminar barreras a la accesibilidad.
Dos Órdenes de Consentimiento separadas, las cuales todavía necesitarían ser aprobadas por el Tribunal de Distrito de los EE. UU. para el Distrito de Puerto Rico, resuelven los pleitos que el Gobierno presentó ante el tribunal, junto con las Órdenes de Consentimiento contra los promotores inmobiliarios radicados en Puerto Rico, Fernando L. Sumaza & Co. Inc. y Star Management Corp. y sus empresas filiales. Conforme los términos de los acuerdos, los acusados deberán tomar medidas correctivas extensas para hacer que los complejos sean accesibles para personas con discapacidades. Estas medidas correctivas incluyen el reemplazo de porciones de la acera cuya inclinación es excesiva, la instalación de vías peatonales y rampas en las aceras con la inclinación apropiada para permitir a personas con discapacidades el acceso desde la acera y las zonas de estacionamiento a las viviendas, el reemplazo de los armarios en los baños y las cocinas para permitir suficiente espacio a personas en silla de ruedas y la eliminación de barreras a la accesibilidad en zonas públicas y de uso común en los complejos. Los acusados pagarán un total combinado de $325.000 para establecer dos fondos de indemnización para compensar a individuos con discapacidades que han sido afectados por las vulneraciones relacionadas con la accesibilidad. Por otra parte, se pagará una sanción civil de $10.000 a los Estados Unidos.
«La ley de Vivienda Justa y la ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades prohíben la discriminación por motivos de una discapacidad y garantizan los derechos de personas con una discapacidad a acceder a la vivienda de su elección», declaró Eric Dreiband, Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles. «El Departamento de Justicia seguirá haciendo de manera agresiva que estas leyes se cumplan para asegurar que las viviendas residenciales multifamiliares se construyan con características accesibles».
«El acceso a una vivienda libre de discriminación es un derecho de todo estadounidense y es algo fundamental para el desarrollo de nuestras comunidades», afirmó el Fiscal Federal W. Stephen Muldrow del Distrito de Puerto Rico. «Este acuerdo es un ejemplo de los esfuerzos continuos de nuestra oficina por hacer cumplir las leyes antidiscriminatorias que protegen tales derechos».
Las Órdenes de Consentimiento también requieren que los acusados participen en una capacitación sobre la ley de Vivienda Justa y la ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades para garantizar que toda futura construcción de viviendas multifamiliares cumpla con estas leyes y para entregar informes periódicos al Departamento de Justicia.
Los 11 complejos en cuestión, todos de los que fueron construidos con el apoyo financiero del programa del gobierno federal de Crédito Fiscal para la Viviendas para Personas de Bajos Ingresos u otros programas federales, son:
Propiedades afiliadas a Fernando L. Sumaza & Co.
- La Inmaculada Elderly Center, San Juan, PR
- Marie Gardens, Cabo Rojo, PR
- San Cristobal, San Juan, PR
- San Fernando Elderly Center, Mayagüez, PR
- Virgen del Pozo, Sábana Grande, PR
Propiedades afiliadas a Star Management Corp.
- Florida Elderly Center, Florida, PR
- Isabela Elderly Center, Isabela, PR
- Monserrate Elderly Center, PR
- Morovis Elderly Center, PR
- Patillas Elderly Center, Patillas, PR
- Sunrise Elderly Center, San Juan, PR
Las personas que tengan derecho a recibir una parte de los fondos del acuerdo serán identificadas por medio de un proceso establecido en las Órdenes de Consentimiento. Aquellas personas que creen haber sufrido daños y perjuicios a causa de las condiciones inaccesibles de cualquiera de estas propiedades, ya sea cuando ellas o alguien asociado con ellas vivían allí o se planteaban vivir allí, deberían comunicarse con el Departamento de Justicia. Para propiedades afiliadas a Fernando L. Sumaza & Co., Inc. llame gratuitamente al 1-800-896-7743 buzón 6 o envíe un correo electrónico a [email protected]. Para propiedades afiliadas a Star Management, llame gratuitamente al 1-800-896-7743 buzón 9 o envíe un correo electrónico a [email protected].
La ley federal de Vivienda justa prohíbe la discriminación en la vivienda por motivos de discapacidad, raza, color de piel, religión, origen nacional, género, discapacidad o estado familiar. Entre otras cosas, la ley de Vivienda Justa requiere que toda vivienda multifamiliar construida después del 13 de marzo de 1991 disponga de las características básicas de accesibilidad, lo que incluye vías de acceso sin escaleras a todas las unidades de la planta baja y unidades accesibles a personas en silla de ruedas y a otras personas con discapacidades. Promulgada en el año 1990, la ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades requiere, entre otras cosas, que instalaciones públicas, tales como oficinas de alquiler en complejos de viviendas multifamiliares diseñados y construidos para una fecha de primera ocupación de los mismos posterior al 26 de enero de 1993, sean accesibles a personas con discapacidades.
La aplicación de la ley de Vivienda Justa es una prioridad de la División de Derechos Civiles. Para más información acerca de la División de Derechos Civiles y las leyes que hace cumplir, vaya a https://www.justice.gov/crt.
Orocovis Man Arrested in Massachusetts on Charges of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – Jeremy Joel López, 20, from Orocovis, Puerto Rico, was arrested for coercion and enticement of a minor, transfer of obscene material and receipt of child pornography, following an investigation by the FBI Ponce Office and the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the Police of Puerto Rico, and the Puerto Rico Department of Justice, District Attorney’s Office for the Region of Aibonito, announced United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, W. Stephen Muldrow.
According to the three-count indictment, from on or about 2018 through September 2019, López used a facility of interstate and foreign commerce to entice and coerce the female minor to engage in sexual activity and received child pornography via messaging applications on his cellular phone.
Assistant United States Attorneys Ginette Milanes and Nicholas W. Cannon, Deputy Chief of the Immigration, Cybercrime, and Child Exploitation Unit, are in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten (10) years imprisonment, and a statutory maximum sentence up to life incarceration. An indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Ponce Man Arrested on Charges of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – Ángel Miguel Rivera-Quiñones, 74, from Ponce, Puerto Rico, was arrested for production of child pornography, coercion and enticement of a minor, and receipt of child pornography, following an investigation by the FBI, the Police of Puerto Rico, and the Department of Justice for the Region of Ponce, announced United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, W. Stephen Muldrow.
According to the three-count indictment, from on or about 2015 through 2018, Rivera-Quiñones induced a female minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct. The defendant used a facility of interstate and foreign commerce to entice and coerce the female minor to engage in sexual activity and received the child pornography depictions via computer.
Assistant United States Attorneys Linet Suárez and Nicholas W. Cannon, Deputy Chief of the Immigration, Cybercrime, and Child Exploitation Unit, are in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen (15) years imprisonment, and a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years’ incarceration per count. An indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Bank of San Juan Internacional, Inc. and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico Resolve Pending Litigation and Related MattersRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – Bank of San Juan Internacional, Inc. (“BSJI”) and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico (“USAO-PR”) have resolved pending investigations and litigation and matters related to that litigation. The litigation stemmed from a federal investigation of BSJI that involved the search of BSJI’s offices in February 2019, and the subsequent seizure of $53,082,824.19 from BSJI and related accounts. The funds were seized based on their connection to certain sophisticated financial transactions (“Financial Transactions”) and underlying agreements to which BSJI was a party. The litigation also involved the USAO-PR filing of a civil forfeiture action relating to those funds. The federal investigation by the USAO-PR further involved review of BSJI’s practices with respect to compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”), including laws and regulations relating to BSJI’s actions, policies and procedures with respect to the filing of suspicious activity reports (“SARs”).
During the period following the February 2019 searches and the seizure of funds from BSJI, Counsel for BSJI and the USAO-PR met and exchanged information regarding the facts underlying the investigation and litigation. BSJI provided to the USAO-PR a comprehensive explanation of the Financial Transactions and relevant facts known to it regarding those Financial Transactions, including the background to, and the mechanics and accounting governing, the Financial Transactions. BSJI cooperated fully in the investigation, agreed to requests from the USAO-PR for information and provided access to its subject matter experts and counsel.
After a thorough review and careful consideration of the information and materials BSJI provided to the USAO-PR with respect to the Financial Transactions, the USAO-PR agreed that dismissal of the civil forfeiture action and returning of the seized funds ($53,082,824.19) to BSJI was appropriate and warranted. As a result, on February 5, 2020, the USAO-PR dismissed the civil forfeiture action, will return all seized funds to BSJI, and has ended its investigation of BSJI and its officials.
In addition to providing the USAO-PR with information and materials relating to the Financial Transactions, BSJI has represented that, as of February 2019, BJSI engaged in numerous substantive measures to strengthen its governance, risk management and control procedures.
As noted above, the USAO-PR conducted an investigation of BSJI regarding its BSA compliance and BSJI’s activities relating to the filing of SARs. In connection with the USAO-PR’s BSA investigation, BSJI has acknowledged that it had opportunities to improve governance, risk management and controls with respect to its BSA compliance and the filing of SARs with respect to a number of depositor account-holders. In turn, the USAO-PR has acknowledged (and taken into consideration in reaching an agreement) the corrective actions BSJI has undertaken in order to improve its BSA and Anti-Money Laundering policies and procedures. As part of the agreement to resolve the USAO-PR’s BSA investigation, BSJI has agreed to pay to the USAO-PR the sum of $1,000,000.
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Former Mayor of Gurabo Found Guilty of Public CorruptionRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – After a four-day jury trial, Victor M. Ortiz-Díaz, a.k.a. “Manolito”, former mayor of the municipality of Gurabo, Puerto Rico, was found guilty of one count of bribery, announced United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow. United States District Court Judge Jay A. Garcia-Gregory presided over the trial. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was in charge of the investigation.
According to the indictment, on or about October 2012, the Municipality of Gurabo owed Company A payments for eight outstanding invoices for work performed in the municipality. Person A, co-owner of Company A, met with mayor Ortiz-Díaz to discuss the outstanding debt. The mayor solicited $125,000 from Person A to invest in a telecommunications antenna project. Because Company A did not have the money to pay the $125,000, the mayor told Person A that he would have the municipality make a payment to the company. With this money, Company A could be able to cover the “loan” to Ortiz-Díaz, as well as pay other debts it owed its suppliers.
On October 19, 2012, Person A issued three post-dated Company A checks payable to three different individuals, who were employees of Miguel Merced. Merced was the individual orchestrating the telecommunications investment scheme in which Ortiz-Díaz invested the three checks totaling $125,000. On that same date, the Municipality of Gurabo issued two checks totaling $196,643.26 payable to Company A for contracting work performed.
Unbeknownst to him, Ortiz-Díaz used the money he extorted from Person A in what turned out to be a Ponzi scheme run by Merced, who recently concluded a six-year prison sentence. The jury acquitted Ortiz-Díaz of the extortion charge pending against him.
This case was investigated by the FBI and HUD-OIG, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott Anderson. The defendant faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. The sentencing is scheduled for July 2, 2020.
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Three Individuals Indicted and Arrested for Lying to an Agency of the United States and the Embezzlement of Government PropertyRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – On January 15, 2020, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment against David Luis Rey-Delgado, David Santiago-Delgado, and José Daniel Cruz Gómez-Hernández, charging them with false statements made to an agency of the United States, and multiple counts of embezzlement of government property, announced United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow. The Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service Law Enforcement Ranger are in charge of the investigation.
According to the information contained in the indictment, on June 11, 2019 David Luis Rey-Delgado and David Santiago-Delgado willfully and knowingly made a materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statement and representation in a matter within the jurisdiction of the Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of the Interior, a department or agency of the executive branch of the Government of the United States, by stating during an interview with the National Park Service Law Enforcement Ranger, that the Polaris all-terrain vehicle had been bought from an unknown individual in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico. The statements and representations were false because, as the defendants herein knew, the Polaris all-terrain vehicle had been taken from a parking garage without authorization and was not bought in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico. Defendant Rey-Delgado is also facing one count for embezzlement of government property for knowingly stealing, purloining and converting to his use or the use of another a Polaris all-terrain vehicle, property of the United States of a value exceeding $1,000, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.
The indictment also charges José Daniel Cruz Gómez-Hernández in two counts for false statements and six counts for the embezzlement of government property. As per the evidence, on August 23, 2019, Gómez-Hernández willfully and knowingly made a materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statement and representation in a matter within the jurisdiction of the Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of the Interior, by stating during an interview with the National Park Service Law Enforcement Ranger, that he had disposed of the generator, cement mixer, backhoe, icebox, washer/dryer combo unit and trolleybuses that he was contracted to remove and destroy from the San Juan National Historic Site, a historical site managed by the National Park Service. The statements and representations were false because, as the defendant herein knew, the property was not destroyed and he kept them in a field for his own interest without authorization.
In addition, on April 8, 2019, defendant Gómez-Hernández took and submitted pictures of the generator, cement mixer, backhoe, icebox, washer/dryer combo unit and trolleybuses that he was contracted to remove and destroy. The statements and representations were false because, as the defendant herein knew, the property was not destroyed, and the photographs were submitted in order to receive the payment of $1,050.00, agreed to. Counts Six to Eleven of the Indictment constitute counts of embezzlement for each piece of property that the defendant was supposed to remove and destroy from the San Juan National Historic Site. The defendants are also facing a forfeiture count for the embezzled property.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney María L. Montañez-Concepción. If convicted, the defendants could face a maximum penalty of five years of imprisonment and a fine of not more than $250,000.00 for the false statements violations; and up to ten years of imprisonment and a fine of not more than $250,000.00, for each embezzlement count.
Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Former Secretary of Puerto Rico Department of Education Julia Keleher Indicted with Another Individual for Bribery, Conspiracy, and Wire FraudRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico– Julia Beatrice Keleher, former Secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Education (“PR DOE”), and Ariel Gutiérrez-Rodríguez have been indicted for their participation in a bribery scheme and conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, announced U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico W. Stephen Muldrow. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is in charge of the investigation.
The indictment returned yesterday, January 14, 2020, by a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico, includes nine counts as follows: Count One: Julia Keleher and Ariel Gutiérrez-Rodríguez - Conspiracy to Commit Honest Services Fraud, Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349; Counts Two through Seven: Julia Keleher and Ariel Gutiérrez-Rodríguez - Wire Fraud, Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343; Count Eight: Julia Keleher - Federal Program Bribery (accepting a bribe), Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(B); and Count Nine: Ariel Gutiérrez-Rodríguez - Federal Program Bribery (paying a bribe), Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(2).
The indictment alleges that the purpose of the conspiracy was for Keleher to use her official position as the Secretary of Education to enrich herself by soliciting and accepting things of value from others, and for others to enrich themselves by obtaining favorable official action from Keleher through corrupt means. Defendant Ariel Gutiérrez-Rodríguez facilitated Keleher’s receipt of financial benefits in connection with her lease and purchase of an apartment in the Ciudadela apartment complex in Santurce, Puerto Rico, in exchange for Keleher’s signing a letter purporting to give 1,034 square feet of the Padre Rufo School to a private company.
“Public corruption continues to erode the trust between government officials and our citizens. Defendant Keleher exploited her government position to benefit herself and other private individuals,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow. “Government officials are entrusted with performing their duties honestly and ethically. When they fail to do so, they will be held to account.”
“Anyone involved in the bribery of a public official seeks to put their own interests above those of the People of Puerto Rico. However, those corrupt parties will eventually pay a much higher price to the criminal justice system, and we will continue to deliver them to the federal courthouse. This has been our commitment to the people of Puerto Rico and one we intend to keep in the years to come,” said Douglas A. Leff, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI.
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel José Capó-Iriarte and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Alum. If found guilty, the defendants are facing possible sentences of up to 10 years for conspiracy and federal program bribery, and up to 20 years for wire fraud. The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Individual Wanted for Capital Murder in Alabama Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On December 20, 2019, United States District Court Chief Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí sentenced David Anthony Pike to two years in federal prison for aggravated identity theft, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. Pike is wanted for capital murder in the state of Alabama.
On January 30, 2019, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment against David Anthony Pike who was living under the name of Stephen Williamson Varner, charging Pike with willfully and knowingly making false statements in a U.S. Passport Renewal Application, mail fraud, misuse of social security number, aggravated identity theft, and false statement of representation made to a department or agency of the United States. On September 12, 2019, Pike plead guilty to the aggravated identity theft charge, which requires a mandatory sentence of two years in prison.
According to the charging documents, on December 7, 2018, Pike executed a U.S. Passport Renewal Application under the name Stephen Williamson Varner. Due to inconsistencies and fraud indicators in the passport renewal form, including a finding of a death record for a Stephen Williamson Varner, born and deceased at the early age of 22 months in the State of Alabama; the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs referred the suspicious application to the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) for investigation. During the course of the investigation conducted by DSS, with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Inspector General, agents confirmed that the individual pretending to be Stephen Williamson Varner was in fact David Anthony Pike, a fugitive wanted since 1985 in Chambers County, Alabama, for capital murder charges (a death penalty eligible offense).
“We are pleased at the outcome of this case,” said Norman E. Ramirez-Seda, DSS resident agent in charge in San Juan. “The Diplomatic Security Service values our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement agencies around the world to prevent and jointly combat U.S. passport and visa fraud. Deterring, detecting, and investigating U.S. passport and visa fraud is not only essential to safeguarding our national security but also in bringing fugitives like Mr. Pike to justice.”
“The teamwork between DSS and the federal law enforcement agencies which collaborated in this investigation, led to the arrest of this dangerous fugitive. We commend the work and dedication of all the agents who turned this passport fraud investigation into the capture of someone who had been running from justice for over 30 years,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow.
Assistant United States Attorney Vanessa D. Bonano-Rodríguez was in charge of the prosecution of the case.
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Individual Sentenced to Two Consecutive Life Sentences for Carjacking and Kidnapping Resulting in MurderRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. –Jorge L. Rodríguez-Santos was sentenced to two consecutive terms of life imprisonment for committing a carjacking that resulted in death, kidnapping resulting in death, and using a firearm during a crime of violence, announced United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow. On May 10, 2019, Rodríguez-Santos was found guilty of all counts after a jury trial. United States District Court Judge Francisco A. Besosa presided over the trial. The FBI was in charge of the investigation.
On April 26, 2018, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Jorge L. Rodríguez-Santos, a.k.a. “Macho.” In May of 2019, during the trial, the government presented evidence proving that on October 10, 2015, in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Rodríguez-Santos, aiding and abetting others, while carrying a firearm, carjacked, kidnapped, and murdered María L. Mayol-Rivera in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2, 924(j)(1), 1201(a)(1), and 2119(3).
The defendant, along with other uncharged individuals, kidnapped Mayol-Rivera and using the vehicle she was driving, a white Mitsubishi Lancer, took her to a secluded area. There, they shot and killed Mayol-Rivera. They then burned her body and the Lancer.
“This was a senseless murder. The defendant planned and carried out the carjacking of a defenseless victim which resulted in her murder,” said US Attorney Muldrow. “We will continue our efforts to hold violent offenders accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
“We are proud to be part of this outcome. Though nothing can bring the victim back, this is a win for justice. There is one less violent criminal on the streets of Puerto Rico, thanks to the fine work done by investigating Agents and by the AUSA’s in charge of prosecution,” said Douglas A. Leff, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, San Juan Field Office.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jenifer Y. Hernández-Vega and Jonathan L. Gottfried.
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Individual Indicted and Arrested for Smuggling Counterfeit and Misbranded Products from ChinaRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On December 12, 2019, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment against Sameer Bani, charging him with seven counts, including: smuggling, receipt in interstate commerce and proffered delivery of misbranded articles, possession with intent to distibute a controlled substance, trafficking in counterfeit goods, and international money laundering, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA), Office of Criminal Investigations is in charge of the investigation with the collaboration of Homeland Security Investigations. Bani was arrested on Monday, December 16, and was granted bail while he awaits trial.
The indictment alleges that on April 2018, defendant Bani fraudulently and knowingly received, concealed, sold, and facilitated the transportation, concealment, and sale of merchandise contrary to law after importation, namely drugs imported from China that were misbranded in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 352(a), in that the drugs’ respective labeling was false or misleading for failure to properly declare active pharmaceutical ingredients, knowing that such merchandise had been imported and brought into the United States contrary to law.
The merchandise that the defendant illegally imported from China was: Fruta Planta weight loss product containing undeclared sibutramine and phenolphthalein APIs; Li Da DAI DAI HUA weight loss product containing undeclared sibutramine, phenolphthalein, and sildenafil APIs; SlimExtreme Gold weight loss product containing undeclared phenolphthalein API; Enhanced Vegetal Vigra, Horney Lion, Plant Vigra, Paradise Ultra Plus, Lang Yi Hao, ExtenZe, Shanghai Ultra X, Suerosexx, Lobo, and La Pepa Negra male enhancement products containing undeclared sildenafil API.
The indictment further alleges that defendant Bani, aided and abetted by others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, did intentionally traffic in goods and knowingly used a counterfeit mark on and in connection with such goods, namely counterfeit Durex® condom foil wrappers.
Bani made three payments for the misbranded products via electronic transmissions of funds, each payment constituting a separate and distinct international money laundering violation.
“This defendant sold counterfeit and misbranded weight loss pills and misbranded male-enhancement pills. Some of these medications contained drugs that the consumers were not aware of and could endanger their health,” said United States Attorney, W. Stephen Muldrow. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with the FDA to protect the public from adulterated and misbranded products, and to ensure that dietary supplement sellers provide accurate information about their products.”
“American consumers must have confidence that the FDA-regulated products they are receiving are authentic and properly labeled with truthful information,” said Justin D. Green, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office. “Today’s announcement serves as a reminder of the FDA’s continued focus on those who put profits ahead of the public health by distributing misbranded drugs and counterfeit devices.”
Assistant United States Attorney Edward Veronda is in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted the defendant faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Individual Found Guilty of Operating “Ponzi” Scheme, Securities and Bank FraudRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – A jury found defendant Carlos Maldonado, owner of Business Planning Resources International Corporation (BPRIC), Glorimar Fashions and Tailoring, LLC, Global Business Insurance Agency Inc., and associated under the incorporation documents with Pet Card Systems, Inc., and Datavos Corporation, guilty of securities fraud and bank fraud, announced today W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The case was presided by United States District Court Chief Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí. The sentencing was scheduled for May 2020.
On October 27, 2016, Maldonado was charged with sixteen counts of securities fraud and bank fraud. From on or about the year 2007 through the year 2012, Carlos Maldonado along with other individuals raised over $5,000,000 on behalf of BPRIC, from over one hundred individuals, and other businesses and investments; resulting in losses to investors exceeding $2,900,000. As part of the solicitation, individuals throughout Puerto Rico and the Continental US received Investment Contracts that were signed by Maldonado and his associates.
The defendant was found guilty on all counts. During trial, the government presented checks, bank records, emails, other documentary evidence, and witness and victim testimonies that proved that the defendant made or caused materially false and misleading representations to be made to investors, including: (i) that various companies were involved in legitimate business functions; (ii) failing to disclose to investors that their funds would be used to buy and trade stocks and commodities on a ScottTrade account, Foreex Capital markets, LLC, and other personal trading accounts, and for Maldonado’s family and expenses; (iii) purchase goods and services at retail stores, restaurants, and spend money for travel, rent, entertainment, and personal auto loan payments.
“The defendant’s conduct undermined the confidence investors place in the financial markets,” said US Attorney Muldrow. “Financial markets are governed by rules that are supposed to protect investors. This defendant, skilled at convincing individuals to place their trust in him, engaged in a ‘Ponzi’ scheme to defraud investors, and ultimately cost them millions of dollars. We will continue investigating and prosecuting this type of crimes to the full extent of the law.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Edward Veronda and Jeanette Collazo, and investigated by the FBI. Maldonado is facing a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, and a fine not to exceed $1,000,000.
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Federal and State Law Enforcement Agencies Intercept Two Go-Fast Vessels with Bales of Cocaine Off the Coasts of the Dominican Republic and Puerto RicoRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a vessel with no indicia of nationality on December 5, 2019 attempting to smuggle more than 600 kilograms of cocaine, with an approximated street value of 14 million dollars south of La Romana, Dominican Republic. Coast Guard Cutter (CGC) RELIANCE responded for law enforcement action and three individuals were arrested. The Caribbean Corridor Strike Force is in charge of the investigation of the case.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Silvia Carreño-Coll authorized a complaint charging Jorge Luiz De La Cruz-Acevedo, Freddy Gerardo Fernández-Breth, and Simon Antonio Patino-Rivero with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.
Custody of the defendants and the narcotics were transferred over to Special Agents of DEA for further investigation and prosecution. This case is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program and the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force (CCSF). The CCSF is a multi-agency OCDETF strike force comprised of federal and state law enforcement agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Coast Guard, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service, and the Puerto Rico Department of Public Safety.
In a different interdiction that occurred on December 10, 2019, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection/Border Patrol (CBP) surveillance unit spotted a suspected target of interest while conducting border security patrol along the western coast of Puerto Rico. CBP Unit continued surveillance of the vessel while contacting and relaying its position to the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) Maritime Unit (FURA) to assist with the interdiction. Soon thereafter PRPD FURA “COBRA 54” unit located and stopped the vessel at one (1) nautical mile from Crash Boat Beach in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The five persons on board, Jesús Ramón Concepción-Guerrero, Miguel Ángel Pourie-Portalatín, Riky Laureano-Ruiz, Israel Herrera-Herrera, and José Manuel Ruiz-Mercedes, and the vessel were detained and towed to the PRPD FURA Unit in Añasco, PR.
After further inspection of the vessel a total of 161 bricks weighing 181.90 kilograms of cocaine were seized, with an approximated street value of four million twenty-five thousand dollars ($4,025,000). U.S. Magistrate Judge Silvia Carreño-Coll authorized a complaint charging the five individuals with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five (5) kilograms or more of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute five (5) kilograms or more of cocaine.
“During the past two weeks federal and local law enforcement worked together to intercept hundreds of kilograms of cocaine before they reached our shores,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, US Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “We cannot, and will not, halt our efforts to protect our borders from drug trafficking.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vanessa Bonhomme and César Rivera-Giraud are in charge of the prosecution of the cases. If convicted the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years up to life in prison.
Criminal complaints contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Attorney for Municipalities in Puerto Rico Convicted of BriberyRead the Press Release
A former attorney for three municipalities in Puerto Rico was convicted of bribery today.
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Leff of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office made the announcement.
Alejandro Carrasco, 63, of San Juan, Puerto Rico, was convicted of four counts of bribery with respect to programs receiving federal funds. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for March 12, 2020.
According to the indictment and evidence introduced at trial, at various times between July 2009 and June 2012, Carrasco was an attorney providing legal services to the Puerto Rican Municipalities of Barceloneta, Rio Grande and Juncos. During that time, he accepted bribes, disguised as legal fees, from a contractor in exchange for assisting the contractor in obtaining contracts with the three municipalities. The evidence introduced at trial revealed that, in total, Carrasco was paid approximately $180,000 in bribes in exchange for helping the contractor obtain more than approximately $2.3 million in municipal contracts.
The FBI’s San Juan Field Office investigated the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico indicted the case. Trial Attorneys James I. Pearce and Nicole R. Lockhart of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section (PIN) prosecuted the case. PIN Trial Attorney Amanda Vaughn and former PIN Trial Attorney Charles R. Walsh assisted in the prosecution.
Justice Department Announces More Than $376 Million in Awards to Promote Public SafetyRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, PR – The Department of Justice today announced that it has awarded more than $376 million in grant funding to enhance state, local, and tribal law enforcement operations and reinforce public safety efforts in jurisdictions across the United States. $2,790,908 will support public safety activities in the District of Puerto Rico. The awards were made by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs.
“Crime and violence hold families, friends, and neighborhoods hostage, and they rip communities apart,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These programs help restore the health and safety of crime-ravaged communities by supporting prevention activities, aiding in the apprehension and prosecution of perpetrators, facilitating appropriate sentencing and adjudication, and providing communities and their residents the means for recovery and healing.”
The awards announced today support an array of crime-fighting initiatives, including the quarter-billion dollar Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grants Program, which funds public safety efforts in 929 state, local and tribal jurisdictions. Funding also supports sex offender registration and notification, law enforcement-based victim services, the testing of sexual assault kits, and programs designed to address youth with sexual behavioral problems. Other awards will focus on wrongful convictions, intellectual property enforcement, innovative prosecution strategies and the safety and effectiveness of corrections systems.
“Supporting law enforcement at every level goes to the heart of the mission of the U.S. Department of Justice,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow. “These grants provide much needed resources and funding to law enforcement agencies as they work to protect our communities from violence, drug trafficking and any others who threaten our safety and security. I would like to encourage more state and local entities to request federal grants to the Department of Justice to continue supporting all the efforts to fight against crime.”
The following awards were made to organizations in the District of Puerto Rico:
Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program awarded $2,116,249 to the Puerto Rico Department of Justice. The program supports a broad range of state and local criminal justice initiatives and reduces existing gaps in service that impact violent crime, crime victims, enforcement, prosecution, adjudication, detention, and rehabilitation. Awards are made through separate solicitations for local and tribal jurisdictions and for states.
BJA Upholding the Rule of Law and Preventing Wrongful Convictions Program- Wrongful Conviction Review Entity-Led Strategy awarded $274,819 to the University of Puerto Rico School of Law. This program supports state and local policymakers, practitioners, and entities that represent individuals with post-conviction claims of innocence to review wrongful conviction claims cases and enact measures to prevent future errors and ensure justice.
SMART Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program awarded $399,840 to the Puerto Rico Department of Correction and Rehabilitation. The program provides funding to states, jurisdictions, U.S. territories and tribal communities to be used to help meet the requirements of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Title I of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act.
Information about the programs and awards announced today is available here. For more information about OJP awards, visit the OJP Awards Data webpage.
The Office of Justice Programs, directed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan, provides federal leadership, grants, training and technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, assist victims and enhance the rule of law by strengthening the criminal and juvenile justice systems. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
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Civil Complaint and Settlement Agreement Involving the Municipality of Sabana GrandeRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On November 22, 2019, the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Puerto Rico, filed a complaint and a settlement agreement against the Muncipality of Sabana Grande in the United States District Court, for violations of the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. §3729 et seq., announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.
The Complaint alleges that in or about April of 2014, the Municipality of Sabana Grande (“MSG”), in conjunction with members of the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee (COPUR) and Mr. Irving Riquel Torres (Torres), through his company Administrative, Environmental and Sports Consultants (AESC), entered into a contract involving funds from the United States Department of Education (USDE), whereby MSG subcontracted COPUR and AESC to provide teachers’ training for MSG’s public school teachers. Based on the rules governing the USDE grant funds provided to the Puerto Rico Department of Education (PRDE), MSG was precluded from subcontracting the services for teachers’ training to non-governmental entities. This arrangement resulted in MSG submitting or causing the submission of false statements, false records and false representations to PRDE for purposes of obtaining federal funding under Title II, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
An investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General (USDOE-OIG), showed that false representations caused the PRDE to disburse approximately $1,770,200 to MSG, which then disbursed the sum of $1,378,212 to COPUR in violation of the program’s applicable statutes and regulations, to include MSG’s subcontracting of COPUR to provide educational training services. Subsequently, COPUR disbursed approximately $439,587 as costs of the project, $375,449 to AESC, and retained the sum of $563,174, as proceeds for serving as an intermediary between MSG and AESC. MSG also retained $391,988.00 as proceeds not authorized under federal law.
Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement between MSG and the United States, MSG agreed to pay the United States $500,000. On October 23, 2019, prior to the filing of the complaint against MSG, COPUR paid the United States $700,000, pursuant to an out-of-court settlement agreement reached with the United States. Additionally, the United States seized in excess of one million dollars from bank accounts belonging to Torres relating to criminal charges filed against him.
“The United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, together with our law enforcement partners, is fully committed to combatting fraud against government programs. We greatly appreciate the support and hard work from our partners at the USDOE-OIG, HUD-OIG, and FBI. This case also underscores the use of federal, civil enforcement laws, such as the False Claims Act, to fight and deter fraud,” said United States Attorney Muldrow.
“The Office of Inspector General has a unique and special law enforcement mission – to protect Federal education funds for eligible students. Today’s settlement is an example of our commitment to this mission,” said Neil Sánchez, Special Agent in Charge of the U S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s Southern Regional Office. “I’m proud of the work of OIG special agents and our law enforcement partners whose tireless efforts brought about this significant settlement. The OIG will continue to carry out our important public service and investigate allegations of fraud, abuse, public corruption, and violations of the False Claims Act.”
“Oftentimes, the most effective weapons we have against fraud and corruption are civil enforcement and asset forfeiture laws, which enable us to strike directly at the greed that motivates these types of crimes, and also give us the power to recover money on behalf of those who were meant to benefit from it: the People of Puerto Rico. We at the FBI were extremely proud to partner in this mission with the United States Attorney's Office, and the Offices of the Inspectors General of the U.S. Departments of Education and Housing and Urban Development, whose steadfast dedication to justice ensured this successful result, and will bring about many more in the future”, said Doug Leff, FBI Special Agent-in-Charge.
These matters were handled and prosecuted by Civil Division Assistant United States Attorneys Jorge L. Matos, David Martorani-Dale, and Civil Division Chief Héctor Ramírez-Carbó of the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Puerto Rico, in conjunction with Special Agent Robert Wolfe of the USDOE-OIG, and in collaboration with Assistant United States Attorney Seth Erbe, Special Agent Juan Carlos López of the FBI, and Special Agent Héctor Mercado of HUD-OIG.
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Individual Indicted and Arrested for Illegally Producing and Shipping Adulterated and Misbranded Animal Drugs Without A LicenseRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On November 14, 2019, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment against Rubén Vázquez-Díaz, charging him with three counts each of introducing misbranded animal drugs; introducing adulterated animal drugs; mail fraud; and wire fraud; and one count of being a drug user in possession of a weapon and ammunition, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA), Office of Criminal Investigations is in charge of the investigation.
Defendant Vázquez-Díaz, with intent to defraud and mislead, did introduce or deliver, or caused to be introduced or delivered, into interstate commerce, an animal drug, namely Blue Magic Formula (BMF), that was misbranded and adulterated, in that the animal drug’s labeling was false and misleading in stating that “BMF contains FDA approved ingredients,”and was unsafe. According to the indictment, the defendant sent shipments of the adulterated animal drugs to Mandeville, Louisiana on December 23, 2016; and to Plantation, Florida on July 19, 2017 and October 10, 2019.
Vázquez-Díaz was charged with violations of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341 (mail fraud) for using the United States Postal Service to ship the Blue Magic Formula and Title 18, United States Code, § 1343 (wire fraud) for receiving payments for the shipments of the Blue Magic Formula. On or about May 8, 2019 the defendant, knowing he was an unlawful user of a controlled substance did knowingly possess a firearm and ammunition, that is, one Beretta Model 84 .380 caliber pistol, two 13-round capacity magazines, and 91 rounds of .380 caliber ammunition, said firearm and ammunition having been shipped and transported in interstate and foreign commerce.
“The law requires that drugs, for people as well as for animals, be produced and branded under the most rigorous of quality standards. When individuals fail to exercise the vigilance that the law demands, they will held be accountable,” said United States Attorney, W. Stephen Muldrow.
“American pet owners rely on FDA oversight to ensure that the drugs their pets receive are safe, effective, and labeled truthfully and accurately,” said Special Agent in Charge Justin D. Green, FDA-Office of Criminal Investigations, Miami Field Office. “Today’s announcement should serve as a reminder of FDA’s commitment to pursuing and bringing to justice those who ignore the law by manufacturing and distributing misbranded and adulterated animal drugs.”
Assistant United States Attorney Scott Anderson is in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted the defendant faces a minimum sentence of one (1) year, and up to twenty (20) years in prison. Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Senator Abel Nazario Quiñones Indicted and Arrested for Bribery Concerning Programs Receiving Federal FundsRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – Today, Senator Abel Nazario-Quiñones and seven other defendants were arrested and charged in a one-count indictment alleging theft or bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The FBI is in charge of the investigation with the collaboration of the Puerto Rico Comptroller’s Office, and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Inspector General (OIG).
Defendant Abel Nazario-Quiñones was first elected Mayor of Yauco, a municipality in Southwest Puerto Rico, in 2000, and continued to be the mayor until December of 2016. The other defendants are: Edwin Torres-Gutiérrez, Special Assistant to the Mayor; Claribel Rodríguez-Canchani, Director of Human Resources for the Municipality; Humberto Pagán-Sánchez, Kelvin Ortiz-Vegarra, Ramón Martes-Negrón, Juan Rosario-Núñez, and Eric Rondón-Rodríguez, who were all irregular employees of the Municipality under Mayor Nazario-Quiñones.
In August 2016, during a routine audit of the Municipality’s records, the PR Comptroller’s Office discovered that there were irregular employees paid by the Municipality of Yauco who either never showed up for work, or showed up sporadically. During the years 2014 until 2016, the defendants conspired and agreed with each other to knowingly embezzle, steal, obtain by fraud, or otherwise without authority convert to the use of any person other than the rightful owner, or intentionally misapply, property valued at more than $5,000.00 that was owned by, or under the care and custody of the Municipality of Yauco. All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371 and 666(a)(1)(A).
The purpose of the conspiracy was for defendant Abel Nazario-Quiñones, with the assistance of defendants Edwin Torres-Gutiérrez and Claribel Rodríguez-Canchani, to pay defendants Humberto Pagán-Sánchez, Kelvin Ortiz-Vegarra, Ramón Martes-Negrón, Juan Rosario-Núñez, and Eric Rondón-Rodríguez from Municipal funds to work on the senatorial campaign of defendant Nazario-Quiñones. A further purpose was for the irregular employees to provide assistance to the campaigns of other party politicians whose support Nazario-Quiñones would need to win the senatorial election and for a subsequent bid to become President of the Senate.
According to the indictment, defendant Nazario-Quiñones signed numerous irregular employment contracts for defendants Pagán-Sánchez, Ortiz-Vegarra, Martes-Negrón, Rosario-Núñez, and Rondón-Rodríguez. The listed justification in each contract was “Necesidad de Servicio” (“Need for Service”). The listed office in each contract was “Oficina del Alcalde” (“Office of the Mayor”). The listed immediate supervisor in each contract was defendant Torres-Gutiérrez, who instructed these irregular employees to report to the Municipality either once a week or once a month. After learning that the municipality was under investigation, Torres-Gutiérrez instructed the employees to report to the Municipality either two times a week or two to three times a month, and then sent them to different offices within the Municipality.
Defendants Pagán-Sánchez, Ortiz-Vegarra, Martes-Negrón, Rosario-Núñez, and Rondón-Rodríguez reported to the Municipality to collect their paychecks and attend meetings in the Annex building with defendants Nazario-Quiñones and Torres-Gutiérrez to discuss defendant Nazario-Quiñones’ campaign. These five irregular employees sporadically completed time and attendance records, and when they did, Torres-Gutiérrez instructed them to simply sign them and leave the hours worked portion blank.
Defendant Abel Nazario-Quiñones ordered defendants Torres-Gutiérrez and Rodríguez-Canchani to direct employees of the Department of Human Resources, either verbally or in writing, to process payroll for the five irregular employees based on false or no documentation to support the payment of wages. Rodríguez-Canchani ordered at least one employee of the Human Resources Department to assist her in creating false time and attendance records and then manipulated the falsely created time and attendance sheets in such a way as to make them appear old.
“Together with our law enforcement partners, our office will continue to aggressively pursue corrupt individuals in the government who defraud their constituents,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow. “This prosecution serves as a warning to other public officials involved in these types of schemes that they will be punished, and as a promise to taxpayers that such violations of the public trust will not be tolerated.”
“The FBI thanks it’s partners at Office of the Comptroller of Puerto Rico (OCPR) whose diligence is directly responsible for the discovery of this scheme, as well as DOL, the IG and the USAO for their never ending pursuit of justice. As always, we encourage the public to come forth with any kind of information related to these and any other federal crimes. Anonymous tips can be provided at Tips.FBI.gov and 787-754-6000,” said Douglas Leff, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation.
“The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General investigates allegations of serious misappropriation of federal funds. We would like to thank the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico’s Comptroller’s Office, and the U.S. Department of Education and Social Security Administration’s Offices of Inspector General for their support and assistance in this investigation,” said Michael C. Mikulka, Special Agent in Charge, New York Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.
“Once more we see the results of the coordinated efforts between federal agencies and the Office of the Comptroller of Puerto Rico. To the People of Puerto Rico, we want to let them know that they have the certainty and assurance that the Comptroller’s Office remains ever vigilant in the proper use of government property and public funds. We will continue to collaborate with the different supervisory entities in the fight against corruption,” said the Comptroller of Puerto Rico, Yesmín M. Valdivieso.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott Anderson. The case was investigated by the Puerto Rico Comptroller’s Office, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Inspector General (OIG), and the FBI. The defendants are facing a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and a fine not to exceed $250,000.
An indictment is only an accusation and not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Former Puerto Rico Police Officer and Associate Indicted and Arrested for Dealing in Firearms Without A LicenseRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On October 30, 2019, a federal grand jury returned a seven-count indictment against Puerto Rico Police Officer Indira Osorio-Ortiz and her associate Lester R. Vázquez-Cintrón for conspiracy to engage in firearms trafficking without a license, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The FBI is in charge of the investigation.
The object of the conspiracy was to sell firearms unlawfully for pecuniary gain in the District of Puerto Rico. Beginning in or about the month of September 2019 in the District of Puerto Rico and the Middle District of Florida, the defendants engaged in the business of dealing in firearms without license. Indira Osorio-Ortiz abused her position as a police officer to gain access to firearms to sell unlawfully and subsequently she facilitated firearms transactions for Lester R. Vázquez-Cintrón by delivering, and coordinating the delivery of firearms to buyers on Vázquez-Cintrón’s behalf.
The indictment includes one conspiracy count, five counts for engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, and two counts for obstruction of justice. On September 17, 2019, Osorio-Ortiz sold a Glock pistol to an individual (hereafter “Individual A”) for $1,500. On September 19, Vázquez-Cintrón offered to sell two fully automatic firearms to Individual A via telephone. On September 20, Osorio-Ortiz traveled to the parking lot of a Chili’s restaurant located in Humacao, PR for the purpose of finalizing the sale of the two fully automatic firearms that Vázquez-Cintrón agreed to sell to Individual A the day prior. This transaction was not completed because Vázquez-Cintrón demanded a last-minute change to the location where he and Osorio-Ortiz had agreed the transaction would take place.
On September 26, Osorio-Ortiz traveled to the parking lot of the Montehiedra Shopping Center in San Juan, PR, and sold to Individual A her POPR-issued firearm, a Smith and Wesson pistol for $2,500, and a second firearm that she stated she had removed from the POPR evidence room, a Glock pistol.
On September 27, Osorio-Ortiz filed a false police report, claiming that her POPR-issued weapon had been stolen from her residence. Thereafter, on October 10, Osorio-Ortiz filed another false police report claiming that the pistol she had taken out of the POPR evidence room and sold had been stolen from her locker. These two false reports constitute the two obstruction of justice charges.
On October 8, Osorio-Ortiz traveled to the parking lot of the Montehiedra Shopping Center to facilitate a firearm transaction between Vázquez-Cintrón and Individual A. Accompanied by Osorio-Ortiz, Individual A purchased a fully automatic rifle with no serial number for $2,500 from individuals unknown to the Grand Jury.
On October 10, Osorio-Ortiz traveled to the parking lot of the Montehiedra Shopping Center to facilitate a firearm transaction between Vázquez-Cintrón and Individual A. Osorio-Ortiz delivered to Individual A two Glock pistols and received $2,800 in return. Osorio-Ortiz agreed that she would deliver additional firearms to Individual A.
“Police officers have a critical public safety responsibility, and those who decide to cross the line and engage in criminal misconduct will be held accountable,” said United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow. “We will vigorously prosecute those involved in the illegal sale and trafficking of firearms, which are then used in the commission of violent crimes. We are committed to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals, who all too frequently endanger our community.”
“Law enforcement officers are invested with the crucial task of serving and protecting the people in their community. When instead of doing so, they engage in illegal activity, they put their communities and the entire justice system at risk. This is sad and unacceptable. Which is why today is a good day,” said Douglas A. Leff, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI. “The FBI would like to thank Police of Puerto Rico for their continued support of the FBI mission and their participation in bringing down rotten apples in their midst. There are excellent men and women among the ranks POPR and these subjects do not represent them.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Alum is in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted, the defendants face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy count and each gun trafficking count, and Osorio-Ortiz faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 for the obstruction counts. An indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Colombian Dentist Arrested for Illegally Practicing His Profession in Puerto RicoRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – United States Magistrate Judge Camille Vélez-Rivé authorized a complaint charging Juan Carlos Pérez-Camacho, 43, a Colombian national for offering dental services without a license to practice dentistry in the U.S. Pérez-Camacho was arrested in Carolina for misusing his visa to perform dentistry work, as well as causing the prescription drug Xylocaine to be misbranded as he was not a practitioner licensed to practice medicine in Puerto Rico, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), working together with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA), Office of Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Department of State’s (DOS) Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (UCIS), U.S. and Customs and Border Protection (CPB), and the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD), working under the Caribbean Anti-Money Laundering Alliance (CMLA), conducted the investigation the spurred the arrest of Pérez-Camacho.
According to the criminal complaint Pérez-Camacho, a national of Colombia, has been illegally practicing dentistry in Puerto Rico since approximately 2018. The charging document also alleges that he provided cosmetic dental services to multiple patients as an unlicensed individual and that he violated the terms of his non-immigrant visa for illegally working in the U.S.
Pérez-Camacho was charged with violations to Title 18, United States Code (USC), sections 1001 (false statements) and 1546 (fraud and misuse of visa, permits, and other documents; and Title 21, USC, Section 331(k), 352(f)(1), 353(b)(1), and 333 (a)(1) and (2), misbranding.
Special Litigation Counsel José Ruiz-Santiago is in charge of the prosecution of the case. The defendant was transferred to Guaynabo Metropolitan Detention Center awaiting the outcome of his case.
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Postal Service Employees Arrested for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. –United States Magistrate Judge Silvia Carreño-Coll authorized a criminal complaint charging Edgardo C. Sánchez-Sosa, Guelvin Benítez-Carrasquillo, and Gellitza Ortiz-Martínez with drug trafficking, mail delay, and tampering with evidence, announced United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow. The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG), the U.S. Postal Inspection Services (USPIS), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are in charge of the investigation.
According to the information contained in the affidavit submitted in support of the criminal complaint, on September 24, 2019, the USPS OIG started receiving allegations from the USPIS that parcels were arriving at the Canóvanas, Post Office with the labels broken or swapped and the barcodes torn. The parcels had a new label with a new address. On September 26th, USPS OIG agents executed multiple search warrants on parcels that were handled and relabeled, and all search warrants tested positive for the presence of cocaine.
The investigation also revealed that on October 1, 2019, employee Sánchez-Sosa mishandled parcels and used his phone during the process to take pictures of the parcels. The agents observed that Sánchez-Sosa opened the parcel and manipulated it. At the same time, he was texting on his phone, making and receiving phone calls. Sánchez-Sosa was detained and the parcel was recovered by the agents.
Defendant Guelvin Benítez-Carrasquillo was the Highway Contract Carrier for route 4 in Canóvanas. Benítez-Carrasquillo would receive the packages containing cocaine from Sánchez-Sosa. He was arrested on October 3rd.
In furtherance of the investigation, agents discovered and seized 24 packages of cocaine that defendant from Gellitza Ortiz-Martínez and Sánchez-Sosa. The packages recovered had a combined weight of 25.91kg for an estimated street value of more than $500,000.
The case is being prosecuted by U.S. Postal Service, Special Assistant United States Attorney Camille García. If convicted, the defendants could face a minimum penalty of 10 years up to life in prison. A criminal complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Oscar Martínez-Hernández, a.k.a. “Cali” Sentenced to Life in Prison for the Murder of Federal Bureau of Prisons Correctional Officer Osvaldo Albarati-CasañasRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – Today, Oscar Martínez-Hernández, a.k.a. “Cali;” was sentenced by US District Court Chief Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí for the of the murder of Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati-Casañas, a Federal Bureau of Prisons Correctional Officer, announced United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, W. Stephen Muldrow. Lieutenant Albarati was murdered on February 26, 2013. On September 20, 2018, Martínez-Hernández was found guilty after an 11-day jury trial.
On January 28, 2015 a Federal Grand Jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned a six count indictment charging nine individuals for the murder of Lieutenant Albarati. Defendants Ángel D. Ramos-Cruz, a.k.a. “Api;” Miguel Díaz-Rivera, a.k.a. “Bolo;” Juan Quiñones-Meléndez, a.k.a. “El Manco;” Orlando Mojica-Rodríguez, a.k.a. “Yogui;” Jayson Rodríguez-González, a.k.a. “Gonzo;” Alexander Rosario de León, a.k.a. “Coquí;” Carlos Rosado-Rosado, a.k.a. “Cano;” and Jancarlos Velázquez-Vázquez, a.k.a. “Jan,” pleaded guilty and were sentenced in accordance with their respective plea agreements for their specific roles in the offense. Ramos-Cruz was sentenced to 309 months, Quiñones-Meléndez was sentenced to 285 months, Díaz-Rivera was sentenced to 129 months, Mojica-Rodríguez was sentenced to 249 months, Rodríguez-González was sentenced to 396 months, Rosario-De León was sentenced to 204 months, Rosado-Rosado was sentenced to 140 months, and Velázquez-Vázquez was sentenced to 120 months.
During Martínez-Hernández’ trial, the government proved that during the period of time prior to Albarati’s murder, Oscar Martínez-Hernández, a.k.a. “Cali;” was incarcerated at the MDC facility pending sentencing in another federal drug case. Martínez-Hernández would consistently use cell phones and had other contraband in his possession while in the facility. Martínez-Hernández and other inmates were angered that Lieutenant Albarati, a member of BOP’s Special Investigations Section, was consistently searching for contraband in the facility and challenged the leadership of the inmate population, including Oscar Martínez-Hernández. The government proved that Martínez-Hernández and these other inmates made a plan to pay individuals in the free community to murder Lt. Albarati as he went home from work.
At trial, witnesses testified that Martínez-Hernández watched from his cell on the evening of February 26, 2013 as Lt. Albarati left in his white Veloster and signaled to other inmates who were communicating with the hired gunman using a contraband cell phone. The gunman waited on the shoulder of Highway 22 near the Buchanan toll. The gunman stalked Lt. Albarati’s vehicle and eventually gunned down Lt. Albarati as he drove home. The gunmen used four .40 caliber fully automatic Glock pistols to commit the murder.
Evidence showed that Oscar Martínez-Hernández had agreed to contribute money for the murder and assisted with signaling to other inmates when Lt. Albarati left work. The jury found the defendant guilty of all six counts including the murder of a federal officer, murder for hire, conspiracy, and related firearms offenses.
“Today justice has been served as the defendant in this case was held responsible for his actions and this horrific crime; a crime that he planned and then was carried out without regard for the victim or his family,” said United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow. “Although the verdict and sentencing of the defendant will not lessen the pain of Lieutenant Albarati’s family, it is my sincere hope that it provides some closure to his loved ones.”
The case was investigated by the FBI with the collaboration of the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, Miami Field Office, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, DEA, ATF, the United States Marshals Service, ICE-HSI, the Puerto Rico Police Department, the San Juan Municipal Police, and other law enforcement agencies that covered hundreds of leads developed as a result of the investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas W. Cannon and Max Pérez-Bouret.
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W. Stephen Muldrow Takes Oath as United States AttorneyRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – Today, The Honorable W. Stephen Muldrow took the oath of office as the United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. In a private ceremony at the United States District Courthouse in Hato Rey, The Honorable Gustavo Gelpí administered the oath of office. While no public comments were made during the ceremony, United States Attorney Muldrow issued the following statement:
I would like to begin my term as United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico by stating that I am both excited and honored to have been selected to lead this highly regarded office, which is filled with many talented and hard-working people.
I would like to thank President Donald J. Trump for appointing me and giving me the privilege of serving as United States Attorney. I also thank the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate. Finally, I am grateful for the support of Attorney General William P. Barr and Congresswoman and Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González-Colón.
My priorities as United States Attorney, first and foremost, will be to follow the strategic goals established by the United States Department of Justice, which include: Enhancing National Security and Countering the Threat of Terrorism; Securing the Borders and Enhancing Immigration Enforcement and Adjudication; Reducing Violent Crime and Promoting Public Safety; and Promoting the Rule of Law, Integrity, and Good Government.
As for our district’s priorities, I will emphasize investigations and prosecutions focusing on public corruption, large-scale drug trafficking, and violent crime. We will work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to accomplish these priorities on behalf everyone who resides in Puerto Rico.
As I begin my work as the United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, I would be remiss if I did not first recognize my predecessor, Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, for her years of dedicated service to the people of Puerto Rico and the United States of America. During my first tour here in Puerto Rico from 1995 until 2001, and afterwards following her remarkable work from Florida, I can attest that Rosa Emilia has shown great leadership and commitment to protecting the people of this wonderful island. I thank her, and wish her nothing but the best.
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W. Stephen Muldrow Juramenta Como Fiscal Federal para el Distrito de Puerto RicoRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, P.R. – Hoy, el Honorable W. Stephen Muldrow prestó juramento como Fiscal Federal del Distrito de Puerto Rico. En una ceremonia privada en el Tribunal Federal en Hato Rey, el Honorable Gustavo Gelpí administró el juramento de cargo. El Fiscal Federal Muldrow emitió la siguiente declaración:
Quiero comenzar mi término como Fiscal Federal para el Distrito de Puerto Rico expresándoles que me siento emocionado y honrado de haber sido seleccionado para dirigir esta oficina de gran prestigio, donde trabajan personas muy talentosas y trabajadoras.
Quiero agradecerle al presidente Donald J. Trump por nombrarme y darme el privilegio de servir como Fiscal Federal para el Distrito de Puerto Rico. También agradezco al Comité Judicial del Senado y al Senado de los Estados Unidos. Finalmente, agradezco el apoyo del Fiscal General William P. Barr y la Congresista y Comisionada Residente Jenniffer González-Colón.
Mis prioridades como Fiscal Federal, en primer lugar, serán seguir los objetivos estratégicos establecidos por el Departamento de Justicia que incluyen: Mejorar la Seguridad Nacional y Contrarrestar la Amenaza del Terrorismo; Asegurar las Fronteras y Mejorar la Aplicación y Adjudicación de Inmigración; Reducir el Crimen Violento y Mejorar la Seguridad Pública; y Promover el Estado de Derecho, la Integridad y el Buen Gobierno.
En cuanto a las prioridades de nuestro Distrito, haré hincapié en las investigaciones y acusaciones enfocadas en la corrupción pública, el tráfico de drogas a gran escala y los delitos violentos. Continuaremos trabajando con las agencias de ley y orden federales, estatales y locales para hacer cumplir la ley y lograr llevar a cabo estas prioridades por el bien y la seguridad de todos los que vivimos en Puerto Rico.
Al comenzar mi trabajo como Fiscal Federal para el Distrito de Puerto Rico, sería negligente si no reconociera primero a mi predecesora, Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez por sus años de servicio dedicado al pueblo de Puerto Rico y los Estados Unidos. Durante mi primer término aquí en Puerto Rico como fiscal federal auxiliar, del 1995 al 2001, y siguiendo su destacado trabajo desde Florida, puedo dar fe de que Rosa Emilia ha demostrado un gran liderazgo y compromiso para proteger al pueblo de esta maravillosa isla. Le doy las gracias y le deseo lo mejor.
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