On August 17, 2007, Angel Colon-Vargas, age 20, was arrested, without incident, in Seattle, Washington by FBI Agents from the San Juan Field Office and the Seattle Field Office. Colon-Vargas is charged with Destruction of an Energy Facility, and if convicted, he faces up to 20 years of imprisonment.
On June 25, 2007, an electrical tower owned by the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) collapsed in Barrio Sonadora, Sector Estrella, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. The investigation by the FBI and the Police of Puerto Rico revealed the aluminum beams which supported the corner beams of the tower had been removed. As a result of the removal of the support beams, this caused the tower to collapse into another nearby tower.
Prior to the collapse of the tower, a suspicious vehicle, described as a Gold Nissan Pathfinder, was seen parked on State Road 834 near the area of the fallen tower, as well as seen quickly departing the area shortly after the collapse of the tower.
The criminal complaint alleges Colon-Vargas who is a resident of Sector El Gato in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, was driving a Nissan Pathfinder prior to and after the collapse of the tower. The complaint further alleges Colon-Vargas was in possession of a black back-pack and tools that were found at the scene which he used to remove parts from the tower. A short time after the collapse of the tower, Colon-Vargas left Puerto Rico and traveled to Seattle, Washington to live with other relatives.
This tower is part of a power line system that transmits a significant amount of electricity to the northern section of the island of Puerto Rico. It is estimated that it will cost approximately $120,000.00 dollars to repair the damage.
Colon-Vargas is also possibly responsible for the partial dismantling of another electrical tower located in Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico, wherein he sold the aluminum of this tower for approximately $90.00 dollars.
“The FBI is committed to protect the infrastructure of Puerto Rico, such as, the water supply, electrical energy, communications, etc.,” said Luis Fraticelli, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI-San Juan Division, “and we will investigate and prosecute any person or persons who cause damage to these vital facilities.”
The public is reminded that a federal criminal complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of any guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial. The U.S. government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
