SAN JUAN, P.R. — Former San Juan Municipal Police officer Carlos Velázquez-Fontanez was sentenced today to 40 years in federal prison for his role in a violent drug trafficking ring that terrorized public housing complexes across Puerto Rico. U.S. District Court Judge Jay A. García-Gregory handed down the sentence after a jury found Velázquez-Fontanez guilty on November 9, 2016, on charges including racketeering, drug trafficking, and multiple counts of murder in aid of racketeering.
The case, led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) San Juan and Carolina Strike Forces, exposed Velázquez-Fontanez’s deep ties to the criminal enterprise known as ‘La Rompe ONU.’ The gang operated with brutal precision, selling crack, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana in at least 15 public housing projects including Jardines del Paraíso, Villa Andalucía, Alturas de Cupey, and Brisas de Cupey, spanning San Juan, Trujillo Alto, and Carolina.
During a 17-day trial, prosecutors presented damning evidence: surveillance footage, wiretaps, photo documentation, and eyewitness testimony proving Velázquez-Fontanez wasn’t just a passive observer—he was an active enforcer. The court heard how ‘La Rompe ONU’ used murder, intimidation, and drive-by shootings to expand its territory and profits, with Velázquez-Fontanez participating directly in acts of violence while wearing the badge of public trust.
Among the most heinous acts was the ‘Tortuguero Massacre’ on June 25, 2011, when gang enforcers opened fire in a drive-by shooting, killing Edwin Díaz-Cruz, Hervin Valcarcel-Martínez (aka ‘Prieto’), Javier Catala-Bermúdez, and Orlando Meléndez-Villegas. Velázquez-Fontanez was found complicit in the attack, which prosecutors argued was carried out to eliminate rival influence and assert dominance in the area.
“We remain undeterred in our commitment to ensure safety and seek justice for victims of violent crimes in Puerto Rico,” said U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. She credited the prosecution team and federal law enforcement partners for dismantling the operation, calling the sentence a signal that no shield—including a police uniform—protects those who betray the law.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alberto López-Rocafort and Victor O. Acevedo-Hernández led the prosecution, with support from the Department of Justice’s Capital Crimes Section and Organized Crime and Gang Section. The ATF and PRPD’s Major Crimes Unit provided critical investigative work. The conviction stands as one of the most significant takedowns of police-involved gang corruption in recent Puerto Rican history.
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Key Facts
- State: Puerto Rico
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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