Five Charged in Puerto Rico Kidnapping-Murder of W.G.E.

Five individuals are facing federal charges in Puerto Rico for the brutal kidnapping and murder of a man identified only as W.G.E., shot multiple times and dumped in Carolina after being abducted from a public housing project in Luquillo. A federal grand jury returned a second superseding indictment yesterday, adding Joshua Luyando-González and Jadnel Flores-Nater, a/k/a ‘Potro,’ to the original charges against Brian Díaz-Serrano, a/k/a ‘Retro’; Roberto Meléndez-Hiraldo, a/k/a ‘Cocodrilo’; and Jairo Huertas-Mercado.

The attack unfolded on or about June 8, 2018, when the defendants allegedly abducted W.G.E. from the Diego Zalduondo Public Housing Project. Authorities say the group, acting in concert, used two vehicles—a Toyota RAV4 and a Toyota Camry—to transport the victim across jurisdictions. The indictment alleges the vehicles functioned as instrumentalities of interstate commerce, a key element in elevating the charges to the federal level.

W.G.E. was driven to Carruzo Ward in Carolina, where he was shot multiple times with multiple firearms. The indictment charges all five defendants with one count of kidnapping resulting in death and two firearm-related counts—using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence that resulted in murder. Each count carries a potential life sentence.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is leading the investigation, with support from the Puerto Rico Department of Public Safety, the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD), and the Bureau of Forensic Sciences. The complexity of the case, including cross-municipal movement and the use of multiple weapons, has made it a priority for federal prosecutors.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Henek is handling the prosecution. U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow emphasized that while the indictment marks a major step, it is not proof of guilt. ‘Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law,’ he stated, underscoring the DOJ’s commitment to due process even in the most heinous cases.

If convicted, Díaz-Serrano, Meléndez-Hiraldo, Huertas-Mercado, Luyando-González, and Flores-Nater each face up to life in federal prison. The case remains ongoing, with trial proceedings expected to begin within the year. The victim’s family has yet to issue a public statement.

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