Individual Sentenced For His Participation In Extortion Scheme

Press Release

US Attorney's Office

SAN JUAN, P.R. – On March 1, 2016, defendant Diomedes Joshua
Alcantara-Troche was sentenced by United States District Court Judge
Jay A. Garcia-Gregory to serve a term of imprisonment of 2 years, and
3 years of supervised released, for his participation in an extortion sche-
me, announced today Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attor-
ney for the District of Puerto Rico.  

On December 1, 2014, the victim received a telephone call from two un-
identified males. The individuals, who were later identified as inmates cu-
rrently incarcerated in a state prison, advised the victim that they had kid-
napped her son, and would harm him unless the victim provided them with
$6,000.00 US Dollars (USD). The inmates later agreed to lower the request
to $1,000. The inmates also warned the victim not to contact the police or
they would harm her son. Upon receiving the initial extortion telephone call
from the inmates, the victim went to withdraw the money and with the assis-
tance of a bank employee she managed to contact her son, who is a federal
agent.  Her son confirmed that he had not been kidnapped. The victim agreed
to assist federal law enforcement agents and proceeded to comply with the
instructions provided by the inmates to make the payment of $1,000.00 USD.

The inmates instructed the victim to bring $1,000.00 USD, to an area in Ca-
rolina. Upon receiving the money, the inmates stated that they would release
her son without incident. After arriving at the location the federal agents spot-
ted Alcantara-Troche driving a car that belonged to his girlfriend, Lorenly Gar-
cia-Echevarria. Alcantara-Troche was detained by federal agents. Alcantara-
Troche indicated that his girlfriend, Lorenly Garcia-Echevarria provided him
the cellular telephone and the vehicle used to pick up the extortion money. Al-
cantara-Troche and Garcia-Echevarria were going to earn approximately $300.
00 USD for their participation in the extortion scheme. Co-defendant Lorenly
Garcia was also sentenced to 2 years for her participation.

“This is a very common extortion scheme used by inmates in state prison in
order to make some easy money from victims who fear their loved ones are in
danger. We urge the public to contact law enforcement if they receive threats
similar to this one,” said U.S Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez.


The case was investigated by HSI and the FBI and prosecuted by Special
Assistant United States Attorney Normary Figueroa.