Month: April 2023

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

The Justice Department announced today that it has joined with the City of Albuquerque in filing a motion seeking changes to the requirements of the consent decree regarding the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) after achieving compliance with a vast majority of the consent decree.

The proposed modifications are based on the city and APD’s notable progress in implementing the consent decree and continued self-assessment of certain provisions of the decree. According to the Independent Monitor, APD has achieved compliance with 80% of the consent decree.

These proposed changes will help APD improve how it investigates low-level uses of force; improve its process for investigating allegations that officers committed misconduct – a crucial component for APD to enforce the requirements of the consent decree in its day-to-day operations; and build on the successes of Albuquerque Community Safety, a city agency that sends trained civilians instead of police officers to 911 calls for mental health, substance abuse, and homelessness issues. This approach allows officers to focus on addressing violent crime, while also connecting people with the services they need.

The Justice Department and the city agreed to critically consider areas where APD has not achieved full compliance in key areas – such as officers’ use of force – and develop strategies for improvement.

“The Justice Department’s consent decree has provided the strong medicine necessary to remedy problems and improve the way policing is carried out across Albuquerque,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “After almost a decade of meaningful reform called for by our consent decree, we are ushering in a new day for people across the city. We are recognizing the progress that the Albuquerque Police Department has made towards achieving compliance with this consent decree for both the court and the public. Though challenges remain, the Justice Department is committed to supporting city leaders, community stakeholders and the police department as we work together to implement lasting institutional reform that makes constitutional policing a reality for everyone across Albuquerque.”

“Together, we are building the effective and constitutional police department the Albuquerque community deserves,” said U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez for the District of New Mexico. “This is apparent both in technical compliance and in actual overall reductions in serious uses of force, which showed a 30% reduction last year. This is a credit to the hard work of the City of Albuquerque, the men and women of the Albuquerque Police Department and the relentless involvement of our community partners. We can now focus our efforts on the central mission of this journey: ensuring that APD conducts thorough, timely and reliable investigations of officers’ use of force. Our staunch commitment to this goal, as a community, will deliver a change in the culture of policing that centers the safety of all members of the public.”

Over the past eight years, APD has made significant strides towards achieving compliance with the requirements of the consent decree. For example:

• Equipped All Officers with Body-Worn Cameras: APD provided all officers with body worn cameras, which must be activated during all law enforcement contact with community members.
• Created New Civilian Investigative Unit: APD launched a centralized unit of civilian investigators responsible for investigating low-level uses of force as part of a pilot program.
• Increased Crisis Intervention Training: The city and APD instituted programs and initiatives to minimize the use of force against individuals in crisis due to behavioral health issues. Approximately 54% of patrol officers serve as trained crisis intervention certified responders – far more than APD’s initial goal of 40% of patrol officers.
• New Data Collection Efforts: APD hired a Director of Analytics who oversees APD’s data collection and analysis efforts and develops evidence-based recommendations for policy and management strategies.
• New Policing Reform Office: APD created the Bureau of Police Reform to accelerate reform efforts, provide oversight for internal investigations of officers and ensure that officers receive discipline that is fair, consistent and commensurate with their misconduct.
• Successful Training Academy: The APD Training Academy has received consistently high ratings from the Monitor.

The District Court for the District of New Mexico entered the consent decree in June 2015.  The decree, as well as information about the Civil Rights Division, are available on its website at Special Litigation Section Cases and Matters. Additional information about implementation of the consent decree is also available on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office at Investigation into Albuquerque Police Department.

Source: United States Department of Justice News

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On April 3, 2023, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned a six-count indictment charging 63 individuals with drug trafficking in the municipality of San Germán, Puerto Rico. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB) Mayagüez Strike Force are in charge of the investigation and completed the filing of charges and arresting processes with the collaboration of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the United States Marshals Service (USMS), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the United States Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC). This investigation and the arrest operation are part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program.

“This case is a prime example of successful drug interdiction operations that result from collaborative work between federal and state agencies,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “We can remove wrongdoers from the streets and bring stability and peace to our communities when we jointly apply our resources, personnel, and operational expertise to bear against extensive organized crime networks.”

The indictment alleges that from 2015 through April 3, 2023, the defendants were members of a drug trafficking organization that distributed heroin, cocaine base (commonly known as “crack”), cocaine, marihuana, Fentanyl, Oxycodone (Percocet), and Alprazolam (Xanax) in the Manuel F. Rossy and El Recreo Public Housing Projects in San Germán, Puerto Rico (PHPs), and areas nearby for significant financial gain and profit. Court documents allege that the defendants acted in different roles to further the goals of the drug trafficking conspiracy, including acting as leaders, enforcers, runners, sellers, and facilitators.

The government also claimed that the co-conspirators conducted drug trafficking transactions at the basketball court of the PHPs in the presence of minors and used multiple vehicles to transport money, narcotics, and firearms. The acts alleged to have been performed in furtherance of the conspiracy included the delivery of heroin, cocaine, crack, marihuana, and prescription pills to clients. According to the indictment, some of the defendants also mixed the fentanyl into the heroin sold at the drug points.

The charged conduct included the use of force, violence, and intimidation to maintain control of the drug trafficking operations and intimidate rival gangs. Accordingly, eight defendants were also charged with possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

The defendants are:

[1] Orlando Medina-Pérez, a/k/a “Orlan”

[2] Julio Cesar Santiago-Calvani, a/k/a “Yuca”

[3] Raymond Omar Alameda-Ramos, a/k/a “Pipita/Reymon”

[4] Luis Enrique Ramos-Feliciano, a/k/a “Luigui”

[5] José Pagán-Casiano, a/k/a “Pito Cancio”

[6] Carlos Claudio-Aquino, a/k/a “Carly Bemba”

[7] Luis Diego Echevarría-González, a/k/a “Pulin”

[8] Juan Carlos Colón-Cordero, a/k/a “Peca”

[9] Brian Oniel Vega-Sáez, a/k/a “Pollito”

[10] Alexander Arroyo-Lugo, a/k/a “Escobar”

[11] Julio Cesar Santiago-Ramos, a/k/a “Yuquita/Goldo”

[12] Jecksan Horrach-Pabón, a/k/a “Menor”

[13] Jomar Joel Horrach-Pabón, a/k/a “Yomo”

[14] Christian O. Montalvo-Casiano, a/k/a “Christian”

[15] James Steven Cupeles-Salas, a/k/a “Yain”

[16] Eniel Morales-Suárez, a/k/a “Liru/Lilu”

[17] Gabriel Enrique Mora-Ruiz, a/k/a “Gaby”

[18] Giovany Torres-Irizarry, a/k/a “Jova”

[19] Miguel A. Rosario-Toro, a/k/a “Tiri”

[20] Joachim Miguel Rosario-Toro, a/k/a “Tito”

[21] Ángel Lionel Flores-Vélez, a/k/a “Toto”

[22] Ángel L. Vázquez-Morales, a/k/a “Vazquez”

[23] Sergio Yamil Mercado-Rodríguez, a/k/a “Sergio”

[24] Luis Enrique Rodríguez-Reyes, a/k/a “Luisito”

[25] John Michael Hernández-Rivera, a/k/a “Buster/John John”

[26] Kelvin Joel Santana-Vega, a/k/a “Kelvin/Pimpollo/Pimpo”

[27] Roberto Moises Irizarry-Ruiz, a/k/a “Robert/Robertito”

[28] Hiram Ramón Sánchez-Ruiz, a/k/a “Hiram/Nene”

[29] Ángel Jazquiel Chaulizant-Mercado, a/k/a “Jazquiel”

[30] Javier Torres-Rodríguez, a/k/a “Guánica/Javy”

[31] Carlos Alberto Ayala-Rodríguez, a/k/a “Lajas”

[32] Ángel Rodríguez-Lugo, a/k/a “Cocolo”

[33] Jesse Ruiz-Desarden, a/k/a “Jesse”

[34] Andrés Moisés González-Ortiz, a/k/a “Andrés”

[35] Luis Ángel Miró-Gregory, a/k/a “Pito Cuchilla”

[36] Kevin Abel Santiago-Olivencia, a/k/a “Ñao”

[37] Ángel Jireh Ruiz-García, a/k/a “Ángel/Angelito/Ángel Culebra”

[38] Jesús Antonio Ruiz-Desarden

[39] Tamara Flores-Valentín, a/k/a “Jamilet”

[40] José Luis Vélez-Santana, a/k/a “Tuna”

[41] Catherine Muñiz-Martínez, a/k/a “Kathy”

[42] Jason Toro-Toro, a/k/a “Golin/Goline/Toto/Tubo”

[43] José Manuel Santiago-Cotte, a/k/a “Flaco/Jose”

[44] Julio Cesar Junior Cintrón-Collado, a/k/a “Jordan”

[45] José Daniel Martínez-Pagán, a/k/a “José”

[46] Joshua González-Muñiz, a/k/a “Jochi”

[47] Yecelys Marie Ortiz-Horrach, a/k/a “Yecelys/Mary”

[48] Diana Ruiz-Horrach, a/k/a “Diana/Titi”

[49] Alberto Uriel Rivera-Ortiz, a/k/a “Albert/Papo”

[50] Jonathan Quintana-Negrón, a/k/a “Cuajo/Cutino”

[51] Carlos Pantojas-Rodríguez, a/k/a “Bebi”

[52] Carolina Avilés-Rivera

[53] Edison Ruiz-Garallúa, a/k/a “Bolocho”

[54] Eliezer Avilés-Rivera, a/k/a “Papito”

[55] Jan Acosta-Vélez, a/k/a “Jan Tatuaje”

[56] Yadiel Javier Ortiz-Rivera, a/k/a “Yadiel Besito”

[57] Josenid Martin-Gregory, a/k/a “Jossy”

[58] Daisy Janet Sánchez- Ruiz, a/k/a “Daisy/Nena”

[59] Jilmarie Jymmyan Lebrón-Cordero, a/k/a “Linda”

[60] Karen Michelle Vega-López, a/k/a “Karen”

[61] Cristian Rivera-Torres, a/k/a “Cristian”

[62] Andrés Orlando Acevedo-Rivera, a/k/a “Andrés”

[63] Jordan Lugo-Méndez, a/k/a “Jordan”

If convicted, the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, and a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Pedro Casablanca and Cristina Caraballo Colón from the Gang Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office are prosecuting this OCDETF matter. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest‑level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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Source: United States Department of Justice News

DETROIT – A Detroit man was sentenced today to 25 years in prison for charges relating to three separate violent carjackings in June and July 2020, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced today.

Worthy and Ison were joined in the announcement by James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Detroit Police Chief James E. White.

Rayquan Sturgis, 23, had previously pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of carjacking, one count of carjacking causing serious bodily injury, one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Sturgis was sentenced by United States District Judge Sean F. Cox.

Sturgis was initially charged with one of the carjackings by the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. However, Wayne County dismissed the carjacking charge so that it could be included with federal gun and carjacking charges in the federal case. “This is an example of the excellent collaboration between Prosecutor Worthy’s office and my office,” U.S. Attorney Ison said. “This collaboration was critical in obtaining this significant federal sentence that was handed down today and will be critical in our approach to violent crime going forward.”

According to the court documents, in three separate incidents, Sturgis carjacked three people after each of them had tried to help him in different ways.  On June 10, 2020, the first victim offered him a ride after he was in a crash.  After she drove him 15 minutes away, Sturgis pointed a gun at her and forced her out of her car and drove away.  On June 18, 2020, Sturgis approached the second victim and asked for help jumpstarting his car.  After driving Sturgis a few blocks, Sturgis got out of the car, walked around to the driver’s side and shot the victim multiple times without even giving him a chance to surrender.  The victim suffered permanent injuries from the gunshot wounds.  And on July 7, 2020, Sturgis was given a ride by the third victim from Inkster to Detroit.  When they arrived in Detroit, Sturgis pistol whipped the victim while he was driving, stole his sunglasses, and then pistol whipped him again and forced him out of the car and drove off.

Two of the carjackings, including where Sturgis shot the victim, went unsolved for nearly a year.  The U.S. Attorneys Office, FBI, and Detroit Police continued to investigate the case and were able to identify Sturgis as the perpetrator after interviewing additional witnesses and collecting evidence from Sturgis’s social media accounts and phone records linking him to the crimes.

“Individuals who assault and carjack the citizens of this district will not escape the dedicated and persistent employees of the Department of Justice, the Detroit Police Department, and the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. This case is a prime example of how my office and our federal and local law enforcement partners will work tirelessly to prosecute those who use firearms to terrorize the citizens of our community,” U.S. Attorney Ison said.

“Sometimes it takes a village working together collaboratively to keep the community safe. These cases are a good example of this. A dangerous predator will no longer be free to prey on others,” said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy.

“Armed carjacking poses an unacceptable danger to public safety and creates a climate of fear for residents in our community,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “This case serves as an example of the collaboration between the FBI and the Detroit Police Department to bring justice to bear upon violent criminals like Rayquan Sturgis who use firearms to victimize innocent people.”

The investigation of the case was conducted by special agents and task force officers of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and officers with the Detroit Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Picek prosecuted this case for the United States.