Puerto Rico News Digest For August 8, 2017

FAMILY KILLED IN DORADO NIGHTMARE

Fall victim to shooting between crooks; Feds may take over

A young married couple, Zuleika Rivera Negrón, age 27 and her partner Angel Pérez Polanco, age 30 were killed along with three of their children last Friday in the town Dorado as the result of a shooting on the same road, with only the couple's 12-year-old daughter surviving. Jaime Joel Ferrer Rivera, a 38-year-old man with an extensive criminal record, was shot at by unidentified assailants as he drove his Land Rover, causing him to lose control of his vehicle, which then crashed into the family's 1992 Toyota Tercel. The family's vehicle then violently smashed against a tree, killing the five victims. Ferrer Rivera died at the scene due to the shooting, after which the perpetrators escaped. Due to Ferrer Rivera being a federal convict, having been sentenced to 30 months in prison in 2004 for stealing shipments of air conditioners, US Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico Rosa Emilia Rodríguez stated that her office may take over the investigation.

PUERTO RICO SUED OVER CONTOL BOARD'S POWERS

From Caribbean Business:

"Puerto Rico was hit with two lawsuits Monday that for the first time challenge the constitutionality of a federal control board overseeing the island’s finances and its power to start a bankruptcy-like court process for some of  the U.S. territory’s more than $70 billion public debt..."

FEMA OK'S FUNDS FOR SALINAS AQUIFER PROJECT

From News Is My Business:

"The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved a $2.8 million hazard mitigation project for the island’s  southern coastal area, which considers its adaptive capacity, and uses surface and ground water to reduce the need for future water rationing in the town of Salinas..."

PPD PROPOSES UNITED FRONT TO FIGHT FURLOUGHS

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Popular Democratic Party (PDP) President Héctor Ferrer announced on Friday that he is willing to join efforts and accompany Gov. Ricardo Rosselló Nevares to the courts if he decides to sue the federal Financial Oversight and Management Board if the reduction of public workers is implemented..."

JOINT VENTURE TO MANUFACTURE POT PRODUCTS IN PR

From Area Development:

"Tropizen, a grower and manufacturer of medical marijuana in Puerto Rico, will partner with WonderLeaf, a Colorado company that makes raw cannabis concentrates and oils, to establish a cannabis manufacturing plant  in Puerto Rico..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For August 2, 2017

"TONKA" GETS TRUCKED OFF TO THE MORGUE...SINGER OZUNA INVOLVED?

POWERFUL DRUG LORD BRUTALLY MURDERED IN SANTURCE

Shortly after midnight this morning, 38-year old Carlos Báez Rosa, who went by the nickname "Tonka" and was one of the most powerful drug lords in the San Juan area, was shot nearly 70 times with various firearms, including AK-47s and AR-15s. The spectacular midnight execution occurred in an alley in the gritty Cantera  sector of Santurce. To add a twist to the story,  police seized a Range Rover SUV at the scene, which belongs to reggeaton singer Juan Carlos Ozuna and contained $6,585 in cash, as well as the singer's wallet. Ozuna dedicated several of his songs to the murdered drug lord, and the latter produced at least one of the singer's recordings. Ozuna became notorious last week due to a viral video in which the reggeaton performer is seen hitting a security guard at one of his stateside performances with a microphone (video is below).

CONTROL BOARD DELIVERS 1ST REPORT TO CONGRESS

From Caribbean Business:

"Puerto Rico’s financial control board said Tuesday that its first annual report to the U.S. President and Congress does not call for the elimination of federal social assistance programs in the commonwealth..."

DOMINO'S TO PUERTO RICO: NO MORE PIZZA!

From News Is My Business:

"HFS Corp. — a franchisee for Domino’s Pizza in Puerto Rico — announced Wednesday the closing of all of its stores on the island, after seeking bankruptcy protection earlier this year, this media outlet confirmed..."

GONZALEZ ASKS FOR MEDICAL AND RESEARCH FUNDS

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González Colón on Monday announced the allocation of $607,568 in federal funds for the treatment of children and mothers with HIV/AIDS and studies on breast cancer..."

MAVS SIGN PUERTO RICAN GIAN CLAVELL

From Fox Sports:

"The Dallas Mavericks have signed free agent guard Gian Clavell, an undrafted rookie who has played  for Puerto Rico’s national team. Clavell was the Mountain West Conference player of the year at Colorado State last season..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For July 24, 2017

JARDINES DE COUNTRY KILL

Carolina neighborhood reports murder for 2nd weekend in a row

A man believed to be in his early 20s, who is so far unidentified, was shot to death at around 4:30 on Sunday morning in the Jardines de Country Club neighborhood of Carolina. The victim parked his car on 30th Street, between a basketball court and baseball field in the suburban neighborhood, and was apparently shot at several times as he sat in the vehicle. It is unknown whether he was pursued there before being killed. After shooting, the perpetrators presumably drove away in their own vehicle, while the victim left his bullet-riddled car and stumbled for a few feet before falling to the ground, where he died. A 911 call alerted police to the sound of gunfire, and they found the lifeless body soon afterward. This is the second murder reported in Jardines de Country Club inside of a week, and was one of eight violent deaths registered over the weekend across Puerto Rico.

TREASURY NET INCOME UP 1.7% FOR LAST FISCAL YEAR

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Puerto Rico Treasury Secretary Raúl Maldonado Gautier reported that the net income to the General Fund from the newly concluded fiscal year 2016-17 (July-June) amounted to $9.334 billion, which represents $159.6 million, or 1.7 percent  more than the previous fiscal year 2015-16..."

ROSSELLO SIGNS PATIENTS' RIGHTS LAW 

From Caribbean Business:

"...Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló on Sunday enacted Senate Bill 27, giving patients more say before health insurers and providing greater power to the Patients Advocate Office (OPP by its Spanish initials) when defending those who are  not covered by the government’s medical plan, Mi Salud..."

MORE PR DOCTORS GOING BANKRUPT 

From News Is My Business:

"During the first six months of the year, 17 medical doctors filed for bankruptcy protection, reporting more than $23.5 million in combined debt to the court, a report by research firm Boletín de Puerto Rico confirmed..."

ROSSELLO TRIES TO PUT PR IN CONGRESSIONAL AGENDA

From The Washington Examiner:

"Puerto Rico is throwing a wrench into the mainland's politics. The Caribbean island's government held a referendum on June 11 to gauge public support in what was the territory's fifth-ever plebiscite on statehood, and the vast majority  of voters said yes..."

Attorney Sentenced To Prison For Concealing A Fugitive

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office

District of Puerto Rico

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Attorney Sentenced To 18 Months In Prison For Concealing A Fugitive From Arrest, Obstruction Of Justice And Tampering With Judicial Proceedings

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico– Today, U.S. District Court Senior Judge Daniel R. Domínguez sentenced state criminal defense attorney Lemuel Velilla-Reyes to 18 months of imprisonment, one year of supervised release and a $20,000 fine for concealing a fugitive from arrest, endeavoring to obstruct, influence and impede the due administration of justice, and tampering with official proceedings, announced U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Public Corruption Squad.

Velilla-Reyes was found guilty on October 12, 2016, after a 20-day jury trial. He was originally indicted on September 16, 2014, on charges of harboring and concealing from detection a person for whose arrest a warrant had been issued under the provisions of a law of the United States on a charge of felony. On July 9, 2015, a second indictment was returned against Velilla-Reyes and Wilfredo Rodríguez-Rodríguez, on charges of endeavoring to obstruct, influence, and impede the due administration of justice, and tampering with official proceedings.

The facts proven at trial showed that on July 14, 2011, Velilla-Reyes represented federal fugitive Wilfredo Rodríguez- Rodríguez, aka “Fredo,” aka “Cape,” aka “Capellán,” under the false name of “Felix Otero-Torres” on local drug and weapon charges in state court. At that time, Wilfredo Rodríguez-Rodríguez had an outstanding arrest warrant since July 14, 2010, in federal case U.S. v. José Colón-de Jesus, et. al. Crim. No. 10-251 (JAF), where he was listed as the fifth individual in the 110-defendant indictment. He was charged with participating as a leader in a drug trafficking conspiracy to distribute controlled substances at the Virgilio Dávila, Las Gardenias, Brisas de Bayamón, and Falin Torrech housing projects, and other areas within the Bayamón Municipality. Velilla-Reyes was the attorney for many of the members of the drug trafficking organization which Rodríguez-Rodríguez was a part of, and had legally represented him in a prior criminal state case in 2006.

In the early morning hours of July 14, 2011, Police of Puerto Rico officers arrested Rodríguez-Rodríguez in Toa Baja while they were executing state arrest warrants. Upon his arrest, he provided the false name of Felix Otero-Torres, and did not provide or have on his person any identification documents.

Attorney Velilla-Reyes arrived at the police station to provide legal representation for Rodríguez-Rodríguez under the false name he had provided. Velilla-Reyes stood by while the charges against his client where filed under the false name. He then appeared in court during the probable cause proceedings and falsely represented to the court that his client Felix Otero-Torres could not recall his social security number or his full address. Velilla-Reyes requested that bail be set without electronic monitoring and told the court he would continue to represent his client throughout all the proceedings. He also vouched for his client’s fulfillment of pre-trial release conditions and his appearance in court. Rodríguez-Rodríguez, who was affirmatively identified during the days that followed, did not show up at the police station for booking and did not return to any court proceeding. Velilla-Reyes continued as the attorney of record, but failed to appear in any of the subsequent court hearings. As a consequence of the above actions, the bond was ordered forfeited and the bond company had to pay $24,000.

“The actions committed by this attorney and his efforts to conceal a federal fugitive from arrest through illegal conduct, undermined the public’s trust in the judicial system. The public’s trust in the integrity of the criminal justice system and those who work within that system is paramount to preserve law and order in our society. We will continue to work with local, state and other federal law enforcement agencies to strengthen the public’s trust in our justice system,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.

“As the evidence in this case demonstrated, this defendant abused his status as a trusted officer of the court to corrupt the judicial system, and in doing so, endangered the public by setting a fugitive free,” said Douglas Leff, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI. “The FBI thanks its partners at the U.S. Attorney's Office for their diligence in obtaining this conviction.”

Senior Litigation Counsel José Ruiz Santiago, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenifer Y. Hernández, and Victor O. Acevedo-Hernández were in charge of the prosecution of the case.

Puerto Rico News Digest For July 17, 2017

WEEKEND BLOODBATH

12 DEAD BETWEEN FRIDAY AND SUNDAY ACROSS PUERTO RICO

Twelve people across Puerto Rico died in suspected homicides between Friday morning and Sunday morning, according to police. Three separate murders were registered in Río Piedras, Humacao and the Hato Rey area of San Juan on Friday. The Humacao victim has been identified as 27-year-old Luis O. Fontanez  López. On Saturday, one murder each took place in Toa Alta and in the Puerto Nuevo section of San Juan. In the Toa Alta case, three masked men in a white car gunned down Ángel Joel Vázquez Hernández age 34, killing him. The victim's 13-year-old daughter was also injured in the brazen attack. Later that day, a decomposing body was found in a field in Caguas, near Road 175.

On Sunday, two young men were executed just past midnight near the Liborio Ortiz housing project in Aibonito, while another man was shot to death less than two hours later at a basketball court in the Piñones sector of  the town of Loíza. The victim was identified as César Orlando González Correa, age 32. He had just left a niece's birthday party at the court; several individuals followed him out to the facility's parking lot and shot him with various firearms, including an assault rifle, over 70 times. Another murder took place at 3:28 that same morning in Ponce, where the bullet-riddled body of  Walter Sánchez de Jesús was found inside a car.

Daylight provided no respite from the parade of horrors, as a woman's body was found in a field close to 10:00 AM on the grounds of Maria Auxiliadora Church in Santurce's gritty Cantera neighborhood. The victim's body showed signs of head trauma, and a bloodied cinderblock was found nearby. Scarcely half an hour after this gruesome discovery, a bullet-riddled body was found inside a white Acura SUV in the Jardines de Country Club neighborhood of Carolina. The victim was identified as Eduardo Luis Mercedes Carrión, a 27-year-old man from San Juan. The murder tally for the year now totals 361, one more than at this time last year.

ECONOMIC CRISIS HITS MAYAGÜEZ ZOO

From Caribbean Business:

"The economic crisis afflicting Puerto Rico for the last decade has also taken a toll on the island’s only zoo, with critics saying it is sorely understaffed and struggling to care for its animals on a limited budget..."

EPA PROPOSES CLEANUP FOR UTUADO SUPERFUND SITE

From News Is My Business:

"The U.S. Environmental Protection is proposing a cleanup plan to address sources of chemical contamination at the Papelera Puertorriqueña Inc. Superfund site, a paper and plastic goods manufacturer in Utuado, the agency confirmed..."

BOARD APPROVES LIQUIDATION OF GDB

From Reuters:

"Puerto Rico's financial oversight board late on Friday approved a plan to wind down the island's Government Development Bank (GDB), bringing the defunct fiscal agent a step closer to settling more than $5 billion in debt..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For July 15, 2017

WHO'S THE REAL ANIMAL?

Crazed dog-killer murders pooch in middle of road

File photo

Toa Alta resident David Mercedes, age 20, sits in jail after chasing a neighbor's pitbull which had entered his property out onto the street and brutally killing the dog. The pooch succumbed to injuries caused by a heavy wooden object which the disturbed perpetrator used to beat it over the head several times. Responding Toa Alta police were shocked at the scene when they arrived to investigate. The violent dog-hater remains at the Bayamón jail after having failed to pay a $10,000 bond.

AIBONITO, NOT SO BONITO...MAN SHOT TO DEATH 

Joseph Rosario Rivera, age 29, fell victim to a drive-by shooting near the entrance to the Las Flores neighborhood of Aibonito, on Road PR-722, on Thursday night. At about 10:35 that night, mulitple individuals with firearms shot at Rivera from inside the car, striking him several times. A good samaritan drove the victim to a local hospital, where he died. The bloody incident has been tallied as the 352nd murder in Puerto Rico for 2017, seven less than at this time last year.

PIP LAWMAKERS: STOP DUMPING TOXIC COAL ASH!

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Legislators Juan Dalmau Ramírez and Denis Márquez Lebrón of the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) announced  Thursday the introduction of steps in the island Senate and House to stop the dumping of toxic coal ash and remedy the ineffectiveness of Law 40 of 2017..."

SENATE PRESIDENT TO FOCUS ON MUNICIPALITIES

From Caribbean Business:

"Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz has defined the course of the upcoming legislative session by pointing out that his priority, as of August, will be to address the fiscal and structural challenges of Puerto Rico’s  78 municipalities..."

RICH PEOPLE RUSH IN TO PICK PUERTO RICO'S BONES

From Bloomberg:

"Distressed-mortgage investors are descending on troubled Puerto Rico. There are big names among them: Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Perella Weinberg Partners and TPG Capital. What’s luring them is the opportunity to scoop up home loans and foreclosed properties for pennies on the dollar..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For July 12, 2017

FAKE COPS ROB VILLALBA RESIDENTS

In two separate incidents at around 3:00 AM on Tuesday, three people were robbed in their homes by four criminals, two of  which were dressed as police officers. The individuals first came to a man's house in the town of Villalba, and after entering the house, informed the victim that they had a search warrant. They them threatened him with a gun and tied him up with an electrical cord before robbing him. The criminals then made their way to the house next door, were they threatened a couple. After a search, the men found $3,000 inside a vehicle, which they took along with a phone before fleeing the scene.

MAN FOUND SHOT TO DEATH IN CAROLINA

The body of 27-year-old Darwin Méndez Mize was found around noon yesterday on the side of Road 860 in the Martín González sector of Carolina. The man, who was shot in the head five times, was a resident of the Loma Alta neighborhood of the same city and had a criminal record. Police are investigating and no suspects have been identified as of yet.

PR TO OKAY POT FOR THE NON-TERMINALLY ILL

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"A law to allow terminally ill patients to use marijuana is now in effect in Puerto Rico, but Gov. Ricardo Rosselló Nevares promises it will soon be amended to include less serious conditions. The governor signed a law Sunday to regulate the use of medicinal cannabis..."

PR AMENDS PR TAX INCENTIVE LAWS

From Caribbean Business:

"Puerto Rico’s governor has signed several amendments to laws meant to lure more investors and attract new companies amid a deep economic crisis. One of the amendments signed by Gov. Ricardo Rossello requires $5,000 a  year in donations to nonprofits to qualify for a break..."

MENNONITE HEALTH BUYS SAN LUCAS HOSPITAL

From News Is My Business:

"Following a period of much analysis and evaluation, the Mennonite Health System reached an agreement with the Episcopal San Lucas Health System to purchase the assets and operation of the Episcopal San Lucas Hospital in  Guayama..."

GOVERNOR CREATES LGBT AFFAIRS COUNCIL

From Pasquines:

"While Governor Ricardo Rosselló’s party is usually considered socially conservative, he took a big step forward  last week in the interest of LGBT people in Puerto Rico. On July 5 Governor Rosselló signed an executive order on Facebook live Broadcast which created an LGBT Affairs Advisory Council..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For July 7, 2017

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE KILLS WOMAN

An as of yet unidentified 19-year-old woman was murdered by her boyfriend shortly after 6:30 this morning at the Juana Matos public housing project in Cataño. The victim had filed reports of domestic violence against her in the past, with the most recent one happening only yesterday. The 30-year-old male perpetrator attempted to commit suicide after shooting the woman, but was unsuccessful and was taken to hospital after being arrested by police. The killer had a record of previous domestic violence incidents.

PREPA RATE HIKE GETS POSTPONED

From Caribbean Business:

"The Puerto Rico Energy Commission (PREC) has granted the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority’s (Prepa) request to postpone until Oct. 1 a permanent rate hike that was slated to go into effect this month..."

MEDICAL POT DISPENSARY OPENS IN GUAYNABO

From News Is My Business:

"...Clínica Verde inaugurated Thursday a clinic at the Borinquen Towers on Roosevelt Ave. in Guaynabo. The 4,000 square-foot property entailed an investment of more than $1.5 million, and will provide a variety of six different cannabis-related products..."

PR FACES OFF AGAINST ANGOLA IN WORLD BASKETBALL

From AllAfrica:

"The Angolan under19 men's basketball team, third in group D in the first stage of the world championship in Cairo are playing this Friday at 1 p.m Puerto Rico, for the consolation phase from the 9th and 16th place..."

GUTIERREZ BLASTS RIVERA SCHATZ OVER LGBT SLUR

From Windy City Times:

"Rep. Luis V. Gutiérrez ( D-IL ) responded to Thomas Rivera Schatz, Puerto Rican Senate President, who used the masculine pronoun "señor" repeatedly to describe Ana Matosantos, the only female member of Puerto Rico's Financial Oversight and Management Board..."

Former Psychiatrist Sentenced For Social Security Fraud

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office

District of Puerto Rico

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, July 3, 2017

SAN JUAN, P.R. – Psychiatrist Luis Escabi-Pérez was sentenced to five years of probation, 500 hours of community service and ordered to pay a restitution of $230,244, for fraud in the application process for Social Security Administration (SSA) disability insurance benefits in Puerto Rico, announced United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Rosa Emilia Rodríguez Vélez.

Escabi-Pérez had plead guilty on July 29, 2015 to committing fraud to the Social Security Administration. Escabi-Pérez’ DEA and medical license were revoked without contest.

Defendant Luis Escabi-Pérez submitted Psychiatric Medical Reports to the SSA in support of applications for disability insurance benefits submitted by his patients. Escabi-Pérez charged a fee for the medical visits, typically in the amount of $100.00. In addition, the defendant typically charged a fee in the amount of $500.00, for the preparation and submittal of a Psychiatric Medical Report to the SSA. He would at times also charge additional fees of up to $5,000 to backdate medical records in order to create the appearance of a longer history of medical treatment.

The case was investigated by the Social Security-OIG with the collaboration of the FBI and the Puerto Rico Police Department. Special Assistant United States Attorney Vanessa D. Bonano-Rodríguez prosecuted the case.

Puerto Rico News Digest For June 29, 2017

DRUG DEALER KILLED IN BROAD DAYLIGHT

Police have identified a man gunned down yesterday morning in a Loíza alley as 39-year-old Jose R "Tatín" Quiñones Ayala, who was allegedly responsible for drug distribution in the local area. Ayala was walking down Melilla alley near 10:40 AM when two males approached him in a small gray car, stepped out of the vehicle and opened fire, leaving him for dead.

FIRST PR BANKRUPTCY MEDIATION DATE SET

From Caribbean Business:

"During the first half of Wednesday’s omnibus hearing over Puerto Rico’s bankruptcy cases, a July 12 date was announced for the first mediation session between creditors and the commonwealth..."

NORMANDIE HOTEL NEEDS $20 MILLION IN REPAIRS

From News Is My Business:

"The iconic Normandie Hotel, located at the entrance of the San Juan islet, needs an investment of some  $20 million to be brought back to its former glory, Tourism Co. Executive Director José Izquierdo said during confirmation hearings on Tuesday..."

LEGAL AID FOR LOW INCOME CITIZENS TO BECOME LAW

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"House Speaker Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Núñez recently has filed legislation to provide greater access to legal services for low income citizens, particularly in civil cases, by developing the Fund for Access to Justice and thereby creating greater access to financial resources..."

GOVERNOR: TRUMP WOULDN'T BLOCK STATEHOOD

From The Washington Examiner:

"Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rossello says he disagrees with Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., who said President Trump would block the U.S. territory from becoming a state because of its Latino population..."

Individual Found Guilty of Drug Trafficking

US Attorney's Office, San Juan

Press Release

April 22, 2017

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Yesterday, after a two day trial, a jury found Luciano Mendoza-Garcia guilty of drug trafficking charges, announced United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. United States District Court Chief Judge Aida Delgado presided over the trial.

On October 13, 2016, the defendant Luciano Mendoza-Garcia and Jorge Balbuena-Peguero were arrested in the high seas during a high speed maritime interdiction were 56 kilograms of cocaine were recovered. On October 19, 2016 a federal grand jury indicted Mendoza-Garcia and Balbuena-Peguero charging them with conspiracy to import controlled substances, conspiracy to possess a controlled substance on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and possession of a controlled substance on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, aiding and abetting each other.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Montes and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Smith were in charge of the prosecution of the case. The defendant faces a minimum mandatory term of imprisonment of 10 years.

Puerto Rico News Digest For April 24, 2017

PONCE COP DIES AFTER SHOOTING

From Officer.com:

"A Puerto Rico police officer succumbed Wednesday of injuries he sustained in a shooting Sunday. Agent Benjamín De los Santos-Barbosa and three other officers attempted to stop a vehicle with an illegal window tint when the driver led them on a pursuit, according to The Officer Down Memorial Page. The driver -- who was on parole for narcotics charges -- led the officers on a pursuit until he encountered a broken down vehicle. The suspect then backed into the patrol car and opened fire as he exited his vehicle, hitting De los Santos-Barbosa in the head. Other officers returned fire, striking the suspect. The man was taken into custody and charged with 15 counts including murder, narcotics violations and weapons violations..."

GROUP TO FORGE AHEAD WITH DEBT AUDIT

From Caribbean Business:

"The Frente Ciudadano por la Auditoría de la Deuda, a group that is pushing for Puerto Rico’s debt to be audited, announced Friday that it will join a University of Puerto Rico (UPR) student protest to demand that the public debt be investigated and to defend public education. The “family-oriented, artistic” and educational event will take place Sunday, April 23..."

PR GROUPS VISIT CUBA FOR BAY OF PIGS CELEBRATION

From Telesur:

"A delegation of 40 members from the Juan Rius Rivera Brigade representing several social organizations in Puerto Rico celebrated the 56th anniversary of the Bay of Pigs victory last week in Cuba, showing their commitment to the elimination of foreign military bases in the world including the illegally occupied U.S. base at Cuba's Guantanamo Bay.At the site of the failed military invasion of Cuba by the CIA-sponsored paramilitary forces, Puerto Rican activists showed solidarity with Cuba and the ideals of the Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro. The brigade seeks to highlight the solidarity between to the two island nations by organizing delegations to Cuba every year..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For April 17, 2017

FEDS WANT COMMONWEALTH IN STATUS REFERENDUM

From Caribbean Business:

"Including the commonwealth in the June 11 political-status plebiscite, as demanded by the U.S. Justice Department, has affected work procedures for the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission (CEE by its Spanish acronym)...Gov. Ricardo Rosselló and his advisers evaluated Saturday U.S. Deputy Attorney General Dana Boente‘s observations, in which he overrode the referendum as enacted for excluding the territorial status as a viable alternative. The governor said his administration will make the necessary adjustments to be backed up by the federal government, and Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz affirmed these amendments will be approved as early as next Tuesday..."

PREGNANT WOMAN GUNNED DOWN IN VIEQUES

Brenda Concepción Gerena, age 19 and four months pregnant, was shot at around 2:15 on Sunday morning along with her 17-year-old stepsister in front of their house in the Esperanza sector of the island municipality of Vieques. The pregnant woman died at Centro Médico in Río Piedras about four hours later, after both women were taken there by helicopter. The deceased victim's stepsister, María Jiménez Gerena, was not critically injured. The two victims had been involved in a dispute with unidentified people in a different part of town earlier that evening. So far in 2017, Puerto Rico has tallied 188 reported murders.

POLICE DETAINS FOUR MIGRANTS IN MONA PASSAGE

From AP/NZ Herald:

"Police say they have detained four migrants in a northwest coastal area commonly used by people from the Dominican Republic to get into this U.S. territory. Officers said they detained a man and a woman Saturday afternoon aboard a 28-foot wooden boat with an outboard motor just off an area beach. They said another man and a woman were detained at a nearby landing area on the beach. The travelers' country of origin was unknown..."

26 Individuals Indicted For Smuggling Cocaine Through The Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport

US Attorney's Office
San Juan
Press Release

Defendants face a narcotics and money laundering forfeiture allegation of 4 million dollars

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On April 10, 2017, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment against twenty-six defendants charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.

The indictment alleges that beginning on a date unknown, and continuing up to and until the return of the indictment, the defendants smuggled multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine through the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (LMMIA) to the Continental United States. The smuggled cocaine was destined to major cities in the Eastern coast. The defendants charged in the indictment had several different roles.

The lead defendant [1] Humberto Concepción-Andrades was identified as the leader and supplier of a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) that smuggled multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine through the LMMIA in Carolina, Puerto Rico. The facilitators were identified as: [2] Jose Colón-Guzmán, [3] Miguel García-Blasco (an employee for JetBlue Airlines at LMMIA and currently a Southwest Airlines employee at the Orlando International Airport), [4] Tito Diaz-Serrano (an employee for Antilles Services, an airport services company at LMMIA), [5] Tomás Domínguez-Rohena (an employee of American Airlines at LMMIA and Miami International Airport), [6] Alexander Gazmey-Santiago (an employee of the International Meal Company who worked at the Air Margaritaville restaurant in LMMIA); and [10] Danel González-González, who smuggled multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine through DHL and through employees of Perfect Cleaning Services Inc., a company that provides cleaning service at LMMIA.

Defendants in the indictment include employees of Air Margaritaville (a restaurant located beyond the TSA security check point at LMMIA): [7] Harold Oliveras-Landrau, [8] Rodney Pérez-Ortega, [11] Michael Danet-Delgado, [12] Jose Paris-Romero, [13] Jean Ocasio-Castro, [14] Orbi Villar-Enriquez, [15] Héctor Ortiz-Brignoni, [16] Edwin Rosario-Rosario and [17] Rafael Coriano-Sierra.

Additional defendants included current and former employees of American Airlines at LMMIA cargo department: [18] Luis Diaz-Colón, [19] Miguel Ruiz-Delgado, [20] Daniel Vélez-Sanjurjo, [21] Marcos González-Figueroa and [22] Brian Otero.

Defendant [24] Aimee Monegro-Polanco is the wife of defendant [1] Humberto Concepción-Andrades. Along with [1] Humberto Concepción-Andrades, [24] Aimee Monegro-Polanco funneled narcotic proceeds through bank accounts of corporations they created to conceal the nature, source, location, ownership, or control of the narcotic proceeds.

Defendants were used as mules to carry the narcotics through LMMIA to its final destination in the Continental United States: [9] Ángel Almodovar-García, [25] Carl Frank Zubillaga and [26] David Figueroa-Colón.

[9] Ángel Almodovar-García also smuggled multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine through LMMIA with the help of UPS driver [23] Felix Rosado-Colón.

The indictment sets forth various methods used by the co-conspirators to smuggle the drugs:

Bathroom Smuggling Method at LMMIA

Defendant [1] Concepción-Andrades, leader drug supplier, provided multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine to a facilitator who supplied the cocaine to defendant [3] García-Blasco. [3] García-Blasco. [3] García-Blasco would then smuggle the kilograms of cocaine past security at LMMIA into the secured area of LMMIA. Defendants [9] Almodovar-García, [25] Zubillaga and [26] Figueroa-Colón worked as mules for the DTO. The mules would arrive at LMMIA, pass through a TSA security checkpoint and contacted [3] García-Blasco or another facilitator. The facilitators indicated the specific bathroom where the mule would meet [3] García-Blasco and receive the kilograms of cocaine. Once the mules had obtained the kilograms they placed them into their carry-on luggage and boarded flights to the Continental United States.

American Airlines Smuggling Method

Defendant [1] Concepción-Andrades, leader drug supplier, provided multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine to a facilitator who supplied the cocaine to defendant [3] García-Blasco. [3] García-Blasco, then provided the cocaine to another facilitator, [4] Díaz-Serrano. [4] Díaz-Serrano then contacted American Airlines employees, who were previously indicted in 2015, who worked for the drug trafficking organization (DTO).

The mules would enter the airport and hand their checked luggage containing multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine to member(s) of the DTO who were working at the American Airlines counter. The American Airlines DTO member(s) would place a sticker onto the checked luggage indicating that it had been cleared by TSA, when in fact the luggage had not been cleared by TSA. The American Airlines employees would then place the checked luggage with other luggage, which had been previously cleared by TSA, and would load them onto commercial airlines headed to the Continental United States.

Air Margaritaville Restaurant Smuggling Method

Defendant [1] Concepción-Andrades, leader drug supplier, provided multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine to a facilitator who supplied the cocaine to defendant [6] Gazmey-Santiago, who would contact members of the DTO employed at the Air Margaritaville restaurant inside LMMIA.

Defendant [12] Paris-Romero, among others, received the cocaine and would place it into the Black Coffee garbage chute at LMMIA, thereby moving the cocaine past the security checkpoint and into the secure area of the airport. Once the cocaine was removed from the trash chute, defendants [8] Pérez-Ortega and [13] Ocasio-Castro would remove the cocaine and store it inside lockers in the Air Margaritaville employee locker room.

Defendants [15] Ortiz-Brignoni, [17] Coriano-Sierra, and other members of the DTO, would move the cocaine from the lockers into the dishwashing area of the Air Margaritaville restaurant. Defendants [16] Rosario-Rosario, [12] Paris-Romero were waiters at the restaurant. They delivered the cocaine inside five pound bags of Gustos Coffee Company coffee bags to defendants [9] Almodovar-García, [25] Zubillaga and [26] Figueroa-Colón. After receiving the coffee bags with the cocaine, the mules boarded flights to the Continental United States. Each Gustos Coffee Company coffee bag contained approximately three to four kilograms of cocaine.

Perfect Cleaning Services Inc. Smuggling Method

Defendant [1] Concepción-Andrades supplied multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine to a DTO facilitator who provided the cocaine to defendant [10] González-González. Gonzalez-Gonzalez ultimately supplied the cocaine to an employee(s) of Perfect Cleaning Services Inc., one of these employees was previously indicted in 2015. The mule(s) would arrive at LMMIA, go through a TSA security checkpoint and contact an employee of Perfect Cleaning Services Inc. The Perfect Cleaning Services Inc. employee would then meet the mule inside a bathroom at LMMIA. The Perfect Cleaning Services Inc. employee would then slide a backpack or piece of luggage containing multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine to the mule under the center divider of the stalls. The mule would then board a flight to the Continental United States.

American Airlines Cargo Smuggling Method

According to the Indictment, defendant [4] Diaz-Serrano facilitated a smuggling venture utilizing American Airlines cargo employees. The employees who participated in this smuggling method were: [18] Díaz-Colón, [19] Ruiz-Delgado, [20] Vélez-Sanjurjo, [21] González-Figueroa, and [22] Brian Otero. As American Airlines employees, they could ship goods free of charge on American Airlines flights. They would obtain multi-kilogram shipments of cocaine in boxed goods, and use American Airlines employee IDs at the American Airlines cargo counter at the airport. The employee would then fill out the proper cargo paperwork and take the shipment through security inspection. DTO members would then clear the shipment and place it on a flight to the Continental United States.

DHL Smuggling Method

Defendant [1] Concepción-Andrades supplied multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine to a DTO facilitator who provided the cocaine to defendant [10] González-González, who smuggled the multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine onto cargo planes headed to the Continental United States.

“These individuals developed numerous smuggling lines to transport cocaine through the LMMIA in Puerto Rico to the Continental United States. Today we have brought their operations to a grinding halt,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “The members of our AirTAT initiative will continue to work together to ensure that our airports are not used to smuggle contraband into the United States mainland.”

Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) is in charge of the investigation with the collaboration of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the U.S. Marshals and the Police of Puerto Rico.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart J. Zander is in charge of the prosecution of the case, under the supervision of Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia Díaz-Rex, Deputy Chief of the International Narcotics Unit. If convicted the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years up to life in prison. Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

This case is part of the ongoing efforts of the Airport Investigations and Tactical Team (AirTAT). Originating in January 2015, AirTAT is a multi-agency initiative created to identify, locate, disrupt, dismantle, and prosecute Domestic and Transnational Criminal Organizations (DTCOs) and its operatives using the LMMIA, the Fernando Luis Rivas Dominicci Airport (the Isla Grande airport), and peripheral airports as platforms to smuggle narcotics, weapons, human cargo, counterfeit documents and illicit proceeds. These airports play a strategic role for DTCOs to conduct contraband smuggling activities inbound and outbound to the continental United States as well as international destinations.

Pervert To Be Sent To Prison For Child Porn

US Attorney's Office
San Juan
Press Release

Thirty-Seven Year-Old Man Found Guilty Of Possession Of Child 
Pornography

SAN JUAN, P.R. – After a three-day jury trial and four hours of delibe-
ration, Joed Torres-Monge was found guilty of one count of possession
of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Rosa Emilia
Rodríguez-Vélez. United States District Court Senior Judge Juan Pérez-
Giménez presided over the trial.

According to the Indictment, from on or about March 16, 2015 through
May 6, 2015, the defendant knowingly possessed materials, which con-
tained images of child pornography, where the production of such visu-
al images involved the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit con-
duct.

During trial, the government presented evidence that Torres-Monge do-
wnloaded numerous pictures and videos from the Internet depicting mi-
nors, in some cases infants, engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

“The conviction of Torres-Monge shows the commitment of our state
and federal law enforcement agencies to apprehend and prosecute cri-
minals whose crimes victimize children,” said United States Attorney
for the District of Puerto Rico, Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. “The U.S.
Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico will continue to prose-
cute sexual predators in order to protect the vulnerable victims of these
crimes, our children.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ginette
Milanes. The now convicted defendant faces a maximum penalty of
twenty (20) years in prison. The sentencing is scheduled for July 21,
2017.

Individual Arrested For Bulk Cash Smuggling

US Attorney's Office

San Juan

Press Release

Máximo Paredes-Suárez was indicted for bulk cash smuggling and providing
false statements to federal officials, announced U.S. Attorney for the District
of Puerto Rico, Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investi-
gations (ICE-HSI) are in charge of the investigation.

On or about November 12, 2016, Máximo Paredes-Suárez, did knowingly con-
ceal more than $10,000 in currency and other monetary instruments, to wit: six-
ty-two thousand three hundred eighty-six dollars ($62,386.00) in United States
currency, in his luggage, and attempted to transport and transfer said U.S. curren-
cy and monetary instruments from the San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín International
Airport, in the District of Puerto Rico, to the Dominican Republic.

According to the indictment, the defendant willfully and knowingly made mate-
rially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements by stating to CBP and ICE-HSI
AirAT agents that he was not transporting any currency, at the San Juan Luis Mu-
ñoz Marín International Airport, San Juan, Puerto Rico. The statement and repre-
sentation was false because, as Paredes-Suárez then and there knew, he had $62,
386.00 in United States currency concealed in his luggage at the San Juan Luis
Muñoz Marín International Airport.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart Zander. The ca-
se was investigated by Customs and Border Protection officers and Homeland Se-
curity Investigations (HSI) Airport Investigations and Tactical Team (AirTAT).

The maximum penalties for these offenses are 10 years of imprisonment. An in-
dictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Defendants are
presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.

Five Indicted For Moving Coke And Money Between NY And PR

U.S. Attorney's Office

San Juan

Press Release

August 24, 2016

SAN JUAN, PR – This morning, the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement
Task Force (OCEDTF) dismantled a drug trafficking organization responsi-
ble for the transportation of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine and drug
money between Puerto Rico and the Continental United States, announced
United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. The Drug Enforce-
ment Administration (DEA) is in charge of the investigation with the colla-
boration of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security In-
vestigations (ICE-HSI), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives (ATF), and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

On August 23, 2016, a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment
charging five individuals with participating in a conspiracy to possess with
intent to distribute cocaine between the year 2009 through December 2013.
The defendants are: José G. Herrera-Olavarría, a.k.a. “Pito”; Richard Rodrí-
guez-Heredia; Luis Rodolfo Mejía, a.k.a. “Tripa”; Emilio J. González-Espi-
nal, a.k.a. “Buster”; and Cessy Martínez-Lantigua, wife of Herrera-Olavarría.

The investigation leading to today’s arrests uncovered that members of this
organization traveled on commercial flights that departed from the Luis Mu-
ñoz Marín International Airport (LMMIA) to the continental United States
with kilograms of cocaine concealed inside suitcases. According to the indic-
tment, the defendants and co-conspirators also mailed controlled substances
to the continental United States.

The indictment alleges that the defendants sold the controlled substances in
the continental United States and would have the profits from the sales sent
back to Puerto Rico.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney José A.
Contreras.

If found guilty, the defendants are facing terms of imprisonment from 10 years
to life. Criminal indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A def-
endant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The case was investigated by agents from the Organized Crime Drug Enforce-
ment Task Force (OCDETF) that investigates South American-based drug tra-
fficking organizations responsible for the movement of multi-kilogram quanti-
ties of narcotics using the Caribbean as a transshipment point for further distri-
bution to the United States. The initiative is composed of DEA, HSI, FBI, US
Coast Guard, US Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, and PRPD's
Joint Forces for Rapid Action.

The Airport Investigations and Tactical Team (AirTAT) operates in the District
of Puerto Rico as an OCDEFT strategic initiative that is part of the National Air-
port Initiative. It is a multi-agency, co-located task force that includes DEA, HSI,
FBI, USPIS, CBP - Office of Field Operations, and ATF. AirTAT also works clo-
sely with the Police of Puerto Rico. AirTAT’s mission is to identify, locate, disr-
upt, dismantle, and prosecute TCOs and their operatives using the Luis Muñoz
Marín International Airport (LMMIA), the Fernando Luis Rivas Dominicci Air-
port (FLRDA), and airport peripherals as platforms to smuggle narcotics, weap-
ons, human cargo, counterfeit documents, illicit proceeds, and other contraband
through these critical airport infrastructures.

Three Defendants Plead Guilty In Identity Theft Tax Fraud Schemes

U.S. Attorney's Office

San Juan

Press Release










Defendants Gabriel Aquino-Camilo and Pedro J. Esteves-Rosa and
defendant Samer Suboh-Kased plead guilty before United States Dis-
trict Judge Juan M. Pérez-Giménez to twenty counts, ten counts, and
five counts, respectively, of theft of government property, announced
Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District
of Puerto Rico.

From December 2011 through May 2012, Aquino-Camilo gave Este-
ves-Rosa twenty (20) U.S. treasury checks totaling $138,912.43 that
were fraudulently obtained by filing false tax returns with the Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) using stolen identities of residents of Puerto Ri-
co. Esteves-Rosa successfully deposited the checks into two business
bank accounts that he controlled. The treasury checks were endorsed
with the victims’ signatures, but each victim denied filing the tax return
and endorsing the check.

From September through October 2012, defendant Suboh-Kased also
received treasury checks that were fraudulently obtained by filing frau-
dulent tax returns with the IRS. He deposited these checks into his busi-
ness bank accounts, without the authorization of the individuals whose
names were on the checks, and then Suboh-Kased withdrew the money
in cash. Suboh-Kased received a percentage for each check he deposited
and another individual kept the remaining amount.

The cases were investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal
Investigation (IRS-CI) and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attor-
ney Nicholas W. Cannon. Esteves-Rosa and Suboh-Kased are scheduled
to be sentenced on November 29, 2016. Aquino-Camilo is scheduled to
be sentenced on December 15, 2016.