U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Federal Office Building
150 Carlos Chardon Avenue
Suite 526
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00918

(787) 754-6000

July 21, 2006

INDICTMENT AND ARREST OF THREE SUBJECTS FOR CARJACKING AND MURDER

Rosa Emilia Rodriguez-Velez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Luis S. Fraticelli, Special Agent in Charge, San Juan Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Pedro Toledo-Davila, Superintendent of the Police of Puerto Rico (POPR), and Adalberto Mercado, Commissioner of the San Juan Municipal Police Department today announce the indictment and arrest of three individuals for carjacking and murder.

Early this morning, law enforcement officers arrested, without incident, Angel A. Melendez-Rivas, age 25 and John T. Ayala, a ge 22, at their residences in the Quintana Public Housing Projects, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. The third individual, Luis A. Nieves-Burgos, age 22, was also arrested without incident, at his place of employment in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico.

On July 18, 2006, the three arrested individuals were indicted by a federal grand jury in the U.S. District of Puerto Rico and charged with allegedly committing the carjacking and murder of Kelvin Ramos-Cardona on June 16, 2005 in violation of Title 18, U.S. Code, Sections 371 (Conspiracy), 2119(3) (Carjacking), 2 (Aiding and Abetting), and 921(a)(3) (Use of a Firearm).

On July 18, 2006, Jose Luis Cora-Melendez, age 38, was also indicted for his alleged participation in this carjacking and murder. At the time of his indictment , it was not yet known that Cora-Melendez had been killed in an unrelated matter four days earlier on Friday, July 14, 2006. Two additional individuals who are believed to have been involved in this crime were also killed within the last year in other related incidents.

This investigation demonstrates the commitment of federal, state, and local law enforcement towards investigating violent crimes taking place in Puerto Rico. The public should rest assured that law enforcement is aggressively investigating these types of crimes.

This case is being investigated by the FBI and the FBI-Safe Streets Violent Crimes Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Antonio R. Bazan, Deputy Chief of the Violent Crimes Unit.

The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of any guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial. The U.S. government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.