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: August 27, 2007

Contact:

U.S. Attorney’s Office
Lymarie V. Llovet-Ayala
Public Affairs Specialist
(787) 282-1820

LOOMIS FARGO ROBBERS ARRESTED

SAN JUAN, P.R. - Rosa Emilia Rodriguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Luis Fraticelli, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), San Juan Division, today jointly announced the arrest of 2 additional gang members (6 of whom were previously arrested). The gang was involved in a series of armored car and bank robberies over the last nine years to include the Loomis Fargo Armored truck robbery on June 14, 2007. The ninth defendant, as yet un-arrested on these charges, Santiago-Fernández, is a former Puerto Rico Police Officer and currently incarcerated for corruption and drug trafficking. A federal grand jury returned a eight-count indictment charging nine (9) men, two of them former police officers, with violations of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951 (a), 2113, 924(o) and 924(c).

The Indictment charges that from on or about February 26, 1998, through June 14, 2007, Angel Luis Fernández-Torres aka Santy, Manuel Fernández-Torres aka Tato, Angel Fernández- Ramos, Saul Moreno- Navarro, Luis Fernández-Torres aka Cochi, Jorge L. Fernández-Torres, Miguel Fernández-Torres aka Paito, Jamir Santiago-Fernández and Carlos J. Diaz-Hernández aka Grande, participated in eight (8) different robberies from 1998 to 2007. Seven of the nine defendants are family members. The accused, willfully conspired, confederated, and agreed with each other, and with others unknown to the Grand Jury, to obstruct, delay and affect commerce, consisting of money belonging to businesses or industries engaged in interstate commerce of affecting interstate commerce, to wit the Loomis Fargo & Co of Puerto Rico, Ranger American Armored Carrier and Banco Popular by means of actual and threatened force, violence.

On June 14, 2007, a Loomis Fargo Armored truck was robbed at the Banco Popular on Kennedy Avenue in San Juan, PR. Four men, armed variously with hand guns and rifles, approached and entered the truck and a number of bags were taken to a white Toyota van; the individuals then fled the scene. That van was burned later. The four assailants were joined by the two lookouts at the burn location and the money, weapons, disguises were transferred to a Jeep Cherokee. Police officer Ortiz saw the Jeep driving erratically and when he attempted to stop them, they began to evade and even fired multiple rounds at Ortiz. Ultimately, the Jeep Cherokee was abandoned and the driver and passenger attempted to flee.

The Jeep Cherokee was found to contain the Loomis money bags with cash in the amount of $524,550.00, two rifles, a handgun, baseball cap and wig, mask, bullet proof vests and a police scanner. Angel Fernández-Torres and his brother Manuel Fernández-Torres were located and arrested. The credentials of Puerto Rico Police Officer Angel Fernández-Ramos, along with his DEA/TFA credentials were found in the possession of Angel Fernández-Torres (his father) when he was arrested. Investigation into the June 14, 2007, Loomis robbery led the FBI to the additional four armored car robberies and the three bank robberies charged in the conspiracy. Over the course of the eight robberies approximately $3.1 million was taken.

If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years on the conspiracy charges, 25 years on the bank robbery and an additional seven years on the weapons violations with fines up to $250,000 dollars.

The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie B. Mosley.

The public is reminded that an indictment 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.