105 Individuals Indicted For Violating The Rico Act In Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A nine (9) count federal indictment was unsealed today in the District of Puerto Rico charging one hundred and five (105) defendants with racketeering, drug trafficking, drive-by shooting murders and related firearm offenses, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD)- San Juan and Carolina Strike Forces were in charge of the investigation, with the assistance of PRPD’s Major Crimes Unit.

The indictment alleges that the defendants are part of a criminal organization known as “La Rompe ONU.” Through its criminal activities “La Rompe ONU” enriched its members and maintained and increased the power of the organization. Members of “La Rompe ONU” would sell crack, cocaine, heroin, and marihuana in public housing projects, including: Jardines del Paraíso, Villa Andalucía, Alturas de Cupey, Jardines de Cupey, Brisas de Cupey, Los Claveles, Nuestra Señora de Covodonga, Los Lirios, Jardines de Monte Hatillo, Jardines de Campo Rico, Jardines de Berwind, San Martín, Monte Park, and Villa Lomas Verdes Public Housing Projects; as well as El Polvorín Ward, Mango Sector and other surrounding areas within the municipalities of San Juan, Trujillo Alto and Carolina, PR. Moreover, members of the organization used violence and intimidation, including murder, to increase the power, territory, and profits of “La Rompe ONU.”

Members of “La Rompe ONU” had different roles in order to further the goals of the enterprise. As alleged in the indictment, there were thirty-five (35) leaders/drug point owners/drug point administrators, who directed and supervised the organization’s criminal activities; twenty-five (25) enforcers; eight (8) suppliers; eleven (11) runners; twenty-five (25) sellers; and one (1) drug processor.

According to the indictment, as part of the racketeering conspiracy, the organization committed twelve (12) murders, including three (3) massacres. Enforcers of “La Rompe ONU” carried out the murders of the following individuals:

• On February 8, 2011, enforcers shot and killed David González-Reyes, aka “Chispa.”
• On May 10, 2011, enforcers shot and killed Ricco Luis Dávila-Díaz.
• On June 25, 2011, during a “drive-by” shooting, enforcers shot and killed Edwin Díaz-Cruz, Hervin Valcarcel-Martínez, aka “Prieto,” Javier Catala-Bermúdez, and Orlando Meléndez-Villegas. This massacre is known as the “Tortuguero Massacre.”
• On July 20, 2011, during a “drive-by” shooting, enforcers shot and killed Santos Díaz-Camacho, aka “Joel Bazooka,” Juan Rosario-Mercado, aka “Toñito,” and Kevin Soto-Román, aka “El Gordo.” This massacre is known as the “Paseos Massacre.”
• On August 28, 2012, during a “drive-by” shooting, enforcers shot and killed Luis Ojeda-Andino, aka “Pollo,” Luis Velázquez-Aquino, aka “Urraca,” and José Ayala-García. This massacre is known as the “Jardines de Cupey Massacre.”

According to the indictment, sixty-nine (69) of the one hundred and five (105) defendants are charged with using and carrying firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Thirty-two (32) firearms were seized from the defendants during the investigation, and they face a forfeiture allegation of eighty-two million dollars ($82,000,000).

“The historic indictment unsealed today shows our continued efforts to dismantle dangerous criminal organizations operating in our communities. We remain undeterred in our commitment to ensure safety and seek justice for victims of violent crimes in Puerto Rico,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “‘La Rompe ONU’ will no longer terrorize law abiding citizens in Puerto Rico. We will continue to use all the tools at our disposal to build solid cases against these individuals, and bring them to justice.”

“Today’s arrests demonstrate law enforcement’s commitment to dismantle violent drug trafficking gangs that are affecting the quality of life of our law abiding citizens in the community. The key to this fight is bringing the resources of all levels of government to empower law enforcement to target organized groups of violent criminals with enhanced punishment and criminal penalties through the utilization of federal statutes, such as, the Violent Crime in Aiding and Abetting Racketeering statute. This sends a clear message that our community will not tolerate the heinous activity perpetrated by gangs like ‘La Rompe ONU,’ and evidences our commitment to work together to dismantle violent street gangs,” stated Hugo Barrera, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Miami Field Division.

The defendants are: Josué Vázquez-Carrasquillo, aka “Mayito/Mayo/El Father”; Pedro Vigio-Aponte, aka “Pedrito/Pedrito He-Man/Pello/Pedrito Trauma”; Frankie Rosa-Calderón aka  “Anky/El Negro/Frank”; Luis F. Alicea-Colón, aka “Trenza/Enano/Luis Trenza”; Miguel Vázquez-Martínez, aka “Miguelo/Radio/Miclo/Bj”; Rubén Cotto-Andino, aka “Rubén El Negro”; Ernesto Morales-Castro, aka “Nestor/Los Gorditos”; Christian Morales-Castro, aka “Bimbo/Los Gorditos”; Reyfrank Quiñones-Carrión, aka “Pelotero”; Kelvin D. Morales-Cintrón; Ismael Méndez-Arroyo, aka “Bolillo”; Michael Muñiz-Sánchez; Jonathan Pérez-Rodríguez, aka “Perra/Perreke”; José L. Ortiz-Aguirre, aka “Cheo/Cheo Cedeño”; Reinaldo Rodríguez-Martínez, aka “Pitbull”; William Ortiz-Aguirre, aka “Playa/Play”; Kidanny Figueroa-Osorio, aka “Sony/Sonata”; José L. Soto-Rivera, aka “Luisito/Scary”; José E. Mojica-Robles, aka “Papito Mojica”; Victor M. Rodríguez-Torres, aka “Cuca/Cucaracha/Papotin”; Rafael Andino-Ojeda, aka “Rafa/Rafa Colgate/Boca Chula”; Myles J. Román-Adorno; Guillermo Sánchez-Mora, aka “Guillo”; Emanuel Zabala-Pérez, aka “Punky/Dalmata”; Alexander Rivera-Carrión, aka “Lechon”; David E. Rodríguez-Castro; Rafael Hiraldo-Alejandro, aka “Bolillo”; Alexis Cartagena-Gerena, aka “Pollo”; Ángel L. Soto-Ramos, aka “Huesito”; Oscar A. Calviño-Acevedo, aka “Alex”; Jesús De-Jesús-Colón, aka “Romulo”; José L. Méndez-De-Jesús, aka “Sonso/Nariz”; William Zambrana-Sierra, aka “W/Willito”; Edgar González-Rivera, aka “Eggy”; Arnaldo Alicea-Colón, aka “Naldito”; Xavier Castro-Vega, aka “Raton”; Carlos M. Guerrero-Castro, aka “Carlitos El Negro/Marcel”; Analdi Tanco-Moreno, aka “Kimbito”; Orlando J. Santana, aka “Fino”; Luis F. Rodríguez-Márquez, aka “Cheykin”; Jesús E. Montalvan-Díaz, aka “Luis Garcia-Diaz/Willy Wonka”; Amaury Méndez-Rosado, aka “Boty”; Luis Yanyore-Pizarro, aka “Kimbo/Bauncer/Jose Boria-Millan”; FNU LNU, aka “Eziel”; Luis Martínez-Nieves, aka “Raya/Trenza”; Michael Rivera-Rodríguez; Alvin A. Cabezas-Cintrón, aka “Ardilla”; Jaime M. Semiday-Pérez; Kenny O. Pacheco, aka “Keny/Bolin”; Roberto Fuentes-Pacheco, aka “Junito Parcha”; Roger Falu-Diaz, aka “Gua”; Félix A. Malave-Torres, aka “Cholon”; Edgardo Luna-López, aka “Piri/Enano”; Jessy J. Meléndez-Hernández, aka  “Koby/El Negro/Lely”; Denzel Rodríguez-Caraballo; Abimael Cruz-Rodríguez; aka “Lindo/Feo/Metra”; Ángel L. Cotto-Negrón; aka “Quija/Kija”; José E. Rivera-Maldonado, aka “Camon”; FNU LNU, aka “Gaby”; José D. Resto-Figueroa, aka “Tego”; Orlando Padilla-Ayala, aka “Oreo/Willito/Angel M. Santiago-Ayala”; Kernis Rodríguez-Rivera, aka “Sosa”; Walter D. Muller-Colón, aka “Vampy/Bolo”; Wilfredo Ruiz, aka “Freddy”; Carlos E. Brioso-Collantes, aka “El Barber/Wiso El Barber”; Carlos Velázquez-Fontanez, aka “Pirin”; Jonathan Figueroa-Catinchi, aka “Katinchi”; Iram I. Santander-Zulueta, “Cubano”; Charlie J. Fournier-Collazo, aka  “Chiry”; Edgardo R. Ruano-Chévere, aka “Masacre/Masa”; Francisco J. González-Camacho, aka “Lento”; Nestor R. Concepción-Rivera, aka “Nesti/Kilate”; Ivette Vázquez-Droz, aka “Ive/Precious Moments”; Billy Villanueva-Carrasquillo, aka “Meca/Billy Meca”; Jayfrank Quiñones-Carrión; Félix Rodríguez-Rodríguez, aka “Correa/Baloncelista/El Indio”; Daniel O. Martínez-Vélez, aka “Berto”; Luis F. Díaz-Tineo, aka “Pipen/Pipe”; Josué O. Figueroa-Rodríguez; Ramón Vicenty-Rivera, aka “Poke”; Luis E. Guadalupe-Camacho, aka “Yaya/Yayi/Ardilla”; Julio N. Matos-Sánchez, aka “Julio Maraña”; Reynaldo González-Zayas, aka “Cuto”; Bryan Martínez, aka “Fat Boy”; Damian Fernández-Jorge; José A. Fournier-Collazo, aka “Semilla”; Kevin Castro-Vega; Juan Guadalupe-Delgado, aka “Bocao”; David García-Franco, aka “David Nota”; Giovani Justiniano-Díaz, aka “Zegueta”; Christian Vázquez-Hernández, aka “Chapa”; James Steele-Torres, aka “Negro Steele”; Nilda Santiago-Espinosa, aka “Katy”; Alex Santiago-Crespo, aka “Papo Swing/Ale”; Francisco Vargas-Sánchez, aka “Maraña”; Carlos Miranda, aka “Eo”; Ramón Andino-Peguero, aka “Mono”; Victor Alfonso-Jorge, aka “Nano”; Héctor J. Cruz-Vargas, aka “Punky”; Yamil Arrizmendi-Santana, aka “El Mono”; Robert D. Pérez-Núñez, aka “Minino”; Anthony Espada-Colón, aka “Oreo/Apu”; Daniel De-Jesús-Díaz, aka “Paleta”; Luis E. Espada-Colón, aka “Zona”; and Astrid J. Martínez-Valentin, aka “La Jefa.”

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alberto López-Rocafort and Victor O. Acevedo-Hernández are in charge of the prosecution of the case. They were assisted by Attorney from the United States Department of Justice’s Capital Crimes Section and Organized Crime and Gang Section. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) were in charge of the investigation. Approximately seven-hundred (700) agents from federal and Commonwealth authorities participated in the arrests.

If convicted, the defendants face up to life in prison. Eighteen (18) of the defendants who participated in the murders included in the indictment are eligible for the death penalty. Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt.  Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.