Puerto Rico Police Officers Charged with Robbery and Civil Rights Violations

Three police officers from Puerto Rico and two civilians have been charged with federal crimes in connection with a 2012 robbery in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. According to the indictment, the defendants conspired to commit robbery and civil rights violations, and were involved in the theft of cocaine and other crimes.

The defendants include Jorge Fernandez-Aviles, 48, Fernando Reyes-Rojas, 42, and David Figueroa-Rodríguez, 32, who were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit civil rights violations. They were also charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute controlled substances and firearms possession.

Pedro Lopez-Torres, 35, and Luis Ramos-Figueroa, 38, were each charged by information on June 25, 2014, for their roles in the 2012 robbery and other crimes. They pleaded guilty to their charges before U.S. District Judge José A. Fusté of the District of Puerto Rico on the same day.

According to court documents, Reyes asked Puerto Rico Police Sergeant Fernandez and Officers Lopez and Ramos to participate in a robbery of a civilian. The officers agreed amongst themselves to participate and went to the airport where they picked up a marked patrol car from Officer Mir. They drove the patrol car to meet Reyes and then went together to the location of the robbery.

Upon entering the house through the garage, one or more of the officers identified themselves as police and falsely claimed they were executing a search warrant. They ordered several individuals in the garage to stand facing the wall and searched them for weapons. While Figueroa watched the occupants, Sergeant Fernandez, Officer Lopez, Officer Ramos, and Reyes searched the property and found cocaine.

Officer Mir was interviewed by Special Agents of the FBI and lied about his role in the robbery. He falsely claimed that he did not recognize a photograph of Officer Lopez, that he had not met with Officer Lopez in more than six months, and that he did not provide the patrol car that was used to commit the 2012 robbery.

The charges against the defendants were unsealed today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez of the District of Puerto Rico, and Special Agent in Charge Carlos Cases of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office.

Defendant Information: Jorge Fernandez-Aviles, Fernando Reyes-Rojas, David Figueroa-Rodríguez, Pedro Lopez-Torres, and Luis Ramos-Figueroa

Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to commit civil rights violations, conspiracy to possess and distribute controlled substances, and firearms possession

City and State: Bayamon, Puerto Rico

Exact Date: July 14, 2012

Sentence or Outcome: The case is ongoing.

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