Rafael Pina-Nieves Indicted For Firearms Violations

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Today, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Rafael Pina-Nieves, a convicted felon and person prohibited from possessing or carrying firearms, with firearms violations, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.  The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, were in charge of the investigation of the case.

According to the indictment, on or about April 1, 2020, in the District of Puerto Rico, defendant Rafael Pina-Nieves, knowing that he had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, knowingly possessed: one Glock pistol, Model 19, 9mm caliber; one Smith & Wesson, Model SD40, .40 caliber, and 526 total rounds of live ammunition, including 148 rounds of .40 caliber handgun ammunition, 123 rounds of .357 caliber handgun ammunition, 3 rounds of .45 caliber handgun ammunition, 170 rounds of .25 caliber handgun ammunition, 3 rounds of 5.7 caliber handgun ammunition, 35 rounds of 7.62 caliber rifle ammunition, 18 rounds of 7.92 caliber rifle ammunition, 1 round of 12 gauge shotgun ammunition, and 25 rounds of 9mm caliber handgun ammunition.

The Glock pistol, Model 19, 9mm caliber possessed by Pina-Nieves was a machine gun, as it was modified to shoot more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.

Pina-Nieves has agreed that he shall surrender to federal authorities in Puerto Rico on August 14, 2020.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward G. Veronda is in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment for each count.

An indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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