Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

Press release available in both English and Spanish.

SAN JUAN, PR—Special Agent in Charge Joseph González, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) San Juan Field Office, announced the arrest of Sixto Raúl Colón-Espada (Colón-Espada).

Colón-Espada was charged under a complaint issued by U.S. Magistrate Judge Marshal D. Morgan, with violations of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) (felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition) for events that took place in Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico.

Colón-Espada faces charges for being found in possession of various firearms and ammunition during a legal search warrant conducted on September 9, 2021, by agents of the Ponce Division of Drugs and Illegal Firearms of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau. The subject was detained by police during the search warrant and arrested by special agents of the FBI Ponce Resident Agency on September 10, 2021.

This case is being investigated by the FBI San Juan Field Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico E. Giovannie Mercado from the Violent Crimes Section. The FBI would like to thank the Puerto Rico Police Bureau for their continued support to the FBI mission and their assistance on this case.

Tips and information assist the FBI and its federal, state, and local law enforcement partners. Citizens with information are asked to contact the FBI San Juan Field Office at 787-987-6500, or to submit tips through the FBI’s Internet complaint portal at Tips.FBI.Gov.

Tipsters can remain anonymous.

The public is reminded a complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty by a court of law. The U.S. government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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Arresto de Sixto Raúl Colón-Espada

SAN JUAN, PR—El Agente Especial a Cargo de la Oficina de San Juan del Negociado Federal de Investigación (FBI, por sus siglas en inglés), Joseph González, anunció el arresto de Sixto Raúl Colón-Espada (Colón-Espada).

Colón-Espada fue acusados mediante querella, emitida por el Juez Magistrado de los Estados Unidos Marshal D. Morgan, por violaciones al Título 18, Código de los Estados Unidos, Secciones 922(g)(1) (convicto en posesión de un arma y municiones), por eventos que ocurrieron en Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico.

Colón-Espada enfrenta cargos por encontrarse en posesión de varias armas y municiones durante la ejecución de una orden de allanamiento estatal llevada a cabo el 9 de septiembre de 2021, por Agentes de la División de Drogas y Armas Ilegales de Ponce del Negociado de la Policía de Puerto Rico. Colón-Espada fue detenido en el acto por agentes de la policía y posteriormente arrestado el 10 de septiembre de 2021 por Agentes Especiales de la Oficina de Ponce del FBI.

El enjuiciamiento de este caso está a cargo del Fiscal Federal E. Giovannie Mercado de la Sección de Crímenes Violentos y es investigado por la Oficina de Ponce del FBI. El FBI desea agradecer a los compañeros del Negociado de la Policía de Puerto Rico, por su continuo apoyo a la misión del FBI y su asistencia en este caso.

Las confidencias e información ayudan al FBI y a sus colegas federales, estatales y locales en el desempeño de sus funciones. Por ello, se le solicita al público que contacte a la Oficina de San Juan del FBI al 787-987-6500, o reporte confidencias a través de la línea de pistas (tips) del FBI, disponible en la página de Internet Tips.FBI.Gov.

Los querellantes podrán permanecer anónimos.

Se le recuerda al público que una Querella sólo contiene cargos y no es evidencia de culpabilidad. Todo acusado se presume inocente hasta que se pruebe lo contrario más allá de toda duda razonable. El Gobierno de los Estados Unidos tiene el peso de la prueba.

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

The Charlotte Division of the FBI is launching an advertising campaign across the state to raise awareness about federal hate crimes and to encourage the public to report them to the FBI.

A hate crime is a traditional offense like murder, arson, or vandalism with an added element of bias. The FBI defines a hate crime as a “criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity.”

Hate crimes are the highest priority of the FBI’s civil rights program because of the devastating impact they have on families and communities. Hate crimes are not only an attack on the victim—they are meant to threaten and intimidate an entire community. Hate itself is not a crime—and the FBI is mindful of protecting freedom of speech and other civil liberties.

The public awareness campaign in North Carolina is part of a nationwide effort coordinated through FBI Headquarters in Washington, DC. The national campaign includes billboards, social media, gas station pump ads, radio, TV, and bus advertisements. In North Carolina, you might see the ads in your social media feeds, on news websites, on buses, and in several airports.

“No one should be afraid of being targeted by an act of violence based on how they look, where they’re from, or any part of their identity. Hate crimes have no place in our country, our state, or our communities. We encourage victims to report hate crimes to the FBI. It’s sickening to know that some people are afraid to walk down the street, we want to change that and need help from all of you,” said Robert R. Wells, special agent in charge of the FBI Charlotte Division.

The FBI works closely with its local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement partners in many hate crime investigations. To learn more about federal hate crime statues and state hate crime laws, visit the United States Department of Justice website at https://www.justice.gov/hatecrimes/laws-and-policies

If you believe you are victim or a witness of a hate crime, we encourage you to report it to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or submitting a tip at https://tips.fbi.gov/