Man Who Killed Two Rangers In 2010 Sentenced

Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
District of Puerto Rico

Press Release

Man Sentenced To 560 Months In Prison For Robbery And Murder
Of Two Department Of Natural Resources Rangers In March Of 2010

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Jonathan Ortiz-Torres was sentenced to 560
months in prison and five years of supervised release for interference of
commerce by robbery, announced United States Attorney for the District
of Puerto Rico Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. Ortiz-Torres pled guilty
on May 27, 2014.

On February 9, 2011, Jonathan Ortiz-Torres was charged, along with
Ángel Santana-Espinet and Leroy Santana-Rosado, with violations of
Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(b)(3) (interference of comm-
erce by robbery); and Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(j), 924
(a)(2), and 2 (possession of a stolen firearm). Ortiz-Torres and Santana-
Espinet were also charged with violations of Title 18, United States Co-
de, Sections 924(c)(1)(A), 924 (j) and 2 (possession and use of a stolen
firearm).

According to the superseding indictment, on March 23, 2010, the defen-
dants, aiding and abetting each other, by force, violence and intimidation,
did take one .9mm caliber Smith and Wesson Pistol from the person or
presence of Rangers of the Department of Natural Resources Félix Rodrí-
guez Gómez and Kenneth Omar Betancourt, then acting as security guards
at Reparto Industrial in Río Piedras, PR, and shot and killed them. The de-
fendants fled the scene but were later arrested by PRPD agents after a high
speed chase.

Defendant Ángel Santana-Espinet pled guilty on August 21, 2012, to co-
unt two of the superseding indictment, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, and
was sentenced to 380 months in prison and eight years of supervised relea-
se. Defendant Leroy Santana-Rosado plead guilty on March 24, 2014, to
count one of the superseding indictment, Interference with Commerce by
Threat of Violence, and was sentenced to 87 months in prison and three
years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Puerto Rico Police Depart-
ment and was prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Julia Díaz-Rex.