Attorney Sentenced for Concealing Fugitive and Obstruction of Justice
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – U.S. District Court Senior Judge Daniel R. Domínguez sentenced state criminal defense attorney Lemuel Velilla-Reyes to 18 months of imprisonment, one year of supervised release and a $20,000 fine for concealing a fugitive from arrest, endeavoring to obstruct, influence and impede the due administration of justice, and tampering with official proceedings, announced U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez.
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Public Corruption Squad.
Lemuel Velilla-Reyes, 56, was found guilty on October 12, 2016, after a 20-day jury trial. He was originally indicted on September 16, 2014, on charges of harboring and concealing from detection a person for whose arrest a warrant had been issued under the provisions of a law of the United States on a charge of felony.
The facts proven at trial showed that on July 14, 2011, Velilla-Reyes represented federal fugitive Wilfredo Rodríguez-Rodríguez, aka “Fredo,” aka “Cape,” aka “Capellán,” under the false name of “Felix Otero-Torres” on local drug and weapon charges in state court. At that time, Wilfredo Rodríguez-Rodríguez had an outstanding arrest warrant since July 14, 2010, in federal case U.S. v. José Colón-de Jesus, et. al. Crim. No. 10-251 (JAF), where he was listed as the fifth individual in the 110-defendant indictment.
The crimes for which Velilla-Reyes was sentenced include obstructing justice, tampering with official proceedings, and concealing a fugitive from arrest. He was originally charged with harboring a fugitive and concealing from detection a person for whose arrest a warrant had been issued under the provisions of a law of the United States on a charge of felony.
The bond was ordered forfeited and the bond company had to pay $24,000 as a consequence of Velilla-Reyes’ actions.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office commended the efforts of the FBI’s Public Corruption Squad for their work on this case.
The public’s trust in the integrity of the criminal justice system and those who work within that system is paramount to preserve law and order in our society. Lemuel Velilla-Reyes’ actions undermined that trust.
The facts of the case are as follows:
Defendant: Lemuel Velilla-Reyes
Criminal Charges: Concealing a fugitive from arrest, endeavoring to obstruct, influence and impede the due administration of justice, and tampering with official proceedings
City and State: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Date: July 14, 2011 (crime date), October 12, 2016 (sentencing)
Sentence: 18 months of imprisonment, one year of supervised release, $20,000 fine
Dollar Amounts: $20,000 fine, $24,000 (forfeited bond)
Key Facts
- State: Puerto Rico
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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