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 28, 2007

Contact:

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

SAN JUAN METRO STRIKE FORCE ARRESTS THREE IN JARDINES DE CAMPO RICO

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 that 4 individuals were taken into custody and 3 of them were arrested for the illegal possession of firearms and drugs. This is an ongoing investigation. The individuals were charged with violations of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922 (g), Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841 (a) (1) and (2).

An investigation conducted by the FBI and the San Juan Metro Strike Force indicated that the apartments being searched today were being used as stash houses for firearms and drugs. Search warrants were obtained for four apartments from U.S. Magistrate Judge Justo Arenas, and executed at the Public Housing Project Jardines de Campo Rico at about 4:30 am this morning.

An AK-47 rifle, and small quantity of what is believed to be cocaine base ("crack") were found. The United States Attorney's Office will be filing a criminal complaint against three of the four individuals for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; and two for drug possession with intent to distribute.
This investigation was conducted by the FBI and the San Juan Metro Strike Force and will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney George A. Massucco in collaboration with Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Guillermo Gil-Bonar.
If convicted of the alleged offenses, the defendants face a maximum of 20 years for drug possession with intent to distribute and up to 10 years for the firearms possession. 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.