A 17-count federal indictment was unsealed today in the District of Puerto Rico charging 21 defendants with racketeering, conspiracy to commit bank robbery, burglary and larceny, interference with commerce by robbery, carjacking, conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances and related firearm offenses, announced U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez for the District of Puerto Rico.
The defendants are part of a bank/ATM robbery gang from the Campanilla and Candelaria Wards in the Municipality of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico. The indictment charges robberies to four banks, two credit unions and a gas station.
According to the indictment, as part of the racketeering and bank robbery conspiracies, the organization committed the following violent acts:
On Nov. 25, 2010, seven defendants travelled to COOPACA, a state-insured credit union in Levittown, Toa Baja, assaulted and abducted a security officer at gun point and stole approximately $45,220 from an ATM machine and they also abducted and robbed other civilians.
On Dec. 29, 2014, 11 of the defendants travelled to Colmadito Encantado at Plaza Encantada in Trujillo Alto, assaulted and abducted a security officer at gun point and stole approximately $53,960 from an ATM belonging to Scotiabank.
On Jan. 5, 2015, 11 of the defendants travelled to the Doral Bank in Vega Baja, burglarized the bank, stole the security recording system, computer equipment and approximately $228,800 from the ATMs.
Defendant Alfredo Umpierre-Santiago, also known as Freddie, faces multiple charges including racketeering, conspiracy to commit bank robbery, burglary and larceny, interference with commerce by robbery, carjacking, conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances and related firearm offenses.
The defendants, including Alfredo Umpierre-Santiago, are facing a RICO forfeiture allegation of at least $190,900 and a bank robbery forfeiture allegation of $344,240.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue its prosecution of organized gangs and their members who engage in senseless acts of violence to wreak havoc in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Rodríguez-Vélez.
Related Federal Cases
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- Ramon Camacho Zepeda, Kidnapping Resulting in Death, Kentucky 2017 · Kentucky
- Bobby Cannon, Racketeering, Maryland 2022 · Puerto Rico
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Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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