Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez
United States Attorney
District of Puerto Rico

Torre Chardón Bldg., Suite 1201
350 C. Chardón Avenue
Hato Rey, Puerto Rico 00918

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: July 24, 2007

Contact:

U.S. Attorney’s Office
Nedy A. Carrillo
Deputy Press Officer
(787) 282-1914

DEFENDANT ACCUSED OF ASSAULTING THE CONSUL GENERAL OF COSTA RICA IN PUERTO RICO WAS FOUND GUILTY

On August 4, 2005, the Consul General of Costa Rica in Puerto Rico was assaulted and robbed as she prepared to leave the Total gas station owned by her husband. This assault occurred in the presence of her 10 year old step-daughter. Charged with these offenses were

Salvi Rafael Benitez-Avila, Tania M. Rosario-Agosto, and Jared Joshua Perez-Castro.

On July 23,2007, after a six-day jury trial, defendant Salvi Rafael Benitez-Avila was found guilty by a jury of the 8 counts in the indictment. The indictment charged with the following violations: Conspiracy to assault a foreign official, interfere with interstate commerce and the use of a firearm to carry out both offenses.

Defendants Tania M. Rosario-Agosto, and Jared Joshua Perez-Castro plead guilty and were sentenced to 41 and 57 months of imprisonment, respectively.

Benitez-Avila is scheduled to be sentenced on October 26, 2007, and is facing an imprisonment term of no less than fourteen years.

The case was investigated by the Diplomatic Security Services, the FBI, and the Puerto Rico Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julie Mosley.