San Juan, Puerto Rico – A brazen act of violence has led to a federal indictment charging Joshua Meléndez-Rivera and Joyce Torres-Vivas with the possession of a machinegun.
According to the Government’s allegations, the couple parked in front of a police officer’s residence in Utuado on April 26, 2020, when the officer asked if they needed anything, the occupants of the car – Meléndez-Rivera and Torres-Vivas – responded angrily and Meléndez-Rivera pointed a gun. After the officer withdrew into her house, shots were fired.
Meléndez-Rivera and Torres-Vivas were subsequently detained in the car and a pistol modified to be fully automatic was found inside. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is in charge of the investigation.
The indictment charges Joshua Meléndez-Rivera and Joyce Torres-Vivas with possession of a machinegun, a federal offense punishable by up to ten years in prison.
An indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Luis Valentin of the Violent Crimes Section.
The defendants face a maximum sentence of ten years in prison if convicted.
Mandatory Facts: Joshua Meléndez-Rivera and Joyce Torres-Vivas, the real full names of the defendants, have been indicted for possession of a machinegun. The crime occurred in Utuado, Puerto Rico on April 26, 2020. The sentence or outcome is not specified.
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Key Facts
- State: Puerto Rico
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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