105 Individuals Indicted for Violating the RICO Act in Puerto Rico

A nine count federal indictment was unsealed today in the District of Puerto Rico charging 105 defendants with racketeering, drug trafficking, drive-by shooting murders and related firearm offenses, announced U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez 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, 35 leaders/drug point owners/drug point administrators, who directed and supervised the organization’s criminal activities; 25 enforcers; eight suppliers; 11 runners; 25 sellers; and one drug processor.

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

    On Feb. 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 Aug. 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, 69 of the 105 defendants are charged with using and carrying firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Thirty-two firearms were seized from the defendants during the investigation, and they face a forfeiture allegation of $82 million.

“The historic indictment unsealed today shows our continued efforts to dismantle dangerous criminal organizations operating in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Rodríguez-Vélez.  “We remain undeterred in our commitment to ensure safety and seek justice for victims of violent crimes in 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,” said Special Agent in Charge Hugo Barrera for ATF’s Miami Field Division.  “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.”

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 aka “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 U.S. Department of Justice’s Capital Crimes Section and Organized Crime and Gang Section.  ATF and PRPD were in charge of the investigation.  Approximately 700 agents from federal and commonwealth authorities participated in the arrests.

If convicted, the defendants face up to life in prison.  Eighteen 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.