April 15, 2011
Contact: SA Waldo Santiago
Caribbean Division
(787) 277-4700

Automatic weapons, guns, magazines, and ammunition seized by ATF, DEA and ICE as part of an ongoing OCDETF investigation in San Juan, PR.	Automatic weapons , magazines, ammunition possessed by convicted felons Julio Pastrana and Alexander Ortiz. They face charges of firearms possession while being convicted felons.

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO -- Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, the United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico announced the arrest of two convicted felons in possession of multiple firearms and ammunition.

On April 15, 2011, Julio Pastrana-Arroyo and Alexander Ortiz-Murphy were arrested by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE/HIS) and Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) agents at a KMart parking lot near Plaza Las Americas and seized firearms, ammunitions and magazines.

The seized firearms were described as follows:

• One Glock Pistol, Model 26, Caliber 9mm,
• One Glock Pistol, Model 17, Caliber 9mm,
• One Springfield Armory pistol, Model XD-40, Caliber .40,
• One Springfield Armory pistol, Model XD-45 ACP, Caliber .40,
• One FNH-USA Pistol, Model 5.7, Caliber 5.7 (Commonly known as a "Cop Killer Pistol"),
• One Special Weapons Team, rifle Model ST-15, Caliber .223,
• One Rock River pistol, Model AR-15, Caliber 5.56.

The defendants were charged with violations of Title 18 United States Code, Section 922 (g) (1), possession of a firearm while being a convicted felon.

The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDTF) investigation of these defendants’ involvement in other offenses continues.

The penalties for the charge of possession of a firearm while being a convicted felon is no more than 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of not more than $250,000. The public is reminded that a criminal complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial, and the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

ATF, DEA, ICE, PRPD and the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Puerto Rico are investigating this case under the OCDETF program.