SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney, in conjunction with our partner agencies in the Homeland Security Task Force (“HSTF”) announce the following prosecutorial results for the week of June 22 through June 26, 2026. The HSTF is a permanent, interagency law enforcement task force created by executive order to combat transnational criminal organizations—including cartels, trafficking networks, and foreign terrorist organizations.
Convictions through Guilty Pleas:
On June 22, 2026, José Esteban Rivera-Tolentino pleaded guilty in Criminal Case 22-327 (PAD) to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances in the Pedro Rosario Nieves Public Housing Project and other areas in and around Fajardo, Puerto Rico. Defendant was arrested on February 24, 2023. The Court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 11, 2026. AUSA Corinne Cordero-Romo is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On June 24, 2026, Andyel González-Sáez pleaded guilty in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ) to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and a firearm-related murder. Defendant was arrested on December 11, 2024. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 24, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell in charge of the prosecution of the case. On June 24, 2026, Jeremy Millán-Isaac pleaded guilty in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ) to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Defendant was arrested on December 11, 2024. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 24, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell in charge of the prosecution of the case. On June 24, 2026, Xavier Thompson-Bido pleaded guilty in Criminal Case 25-272 (SCC) to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 24, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Andrés Orr in charge of the prosecution of the case. On June 24, 2026, Yomar Gabriel Rivera-Hernández pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking in Criminal Case 24-170 (RAM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with participating in a violent drug trafficking organization that operated principally in the Jardines de Sellés Public Housing Project in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Defendant was arrested on May 22, 2024. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 22, 2026. AUSAs Joseph Russell and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On June 25, 2026, Jeremy José Maldonado-Rivera pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking in Criminal Case 25-104 (RAM). Defendant was arrested on February 25, 2024. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 23, 2026. AUSA Joseph Russell is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On June 25, 2026, Javier Sánchez-Pérez pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking in Criminal Case 25-104 (RAM). Defendant was arrested on February 25, 2024. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 23, 2026. AUSA Joseph Russell is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On June 25, 2026, Denis Ditrán pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to commit wire, mail, and bank fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349 in Criminal Case 25-275 (RAM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with engaging in a scheme to defraud a retail store and a financial institution using false identification documents. Defendant was arrested on June 17, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 23, 2026. Social Security Administration SAUSA Vanessa Bonano is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On June 26, 2026, Omar Ramos-Avilés pleaded guilty to violating 18 U.S.C. § 1001 in Criminal Case 25-274. According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with knowingly making a false statement to law enforcement officers during the course of their investigation. Defendant was arrested on June 13, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 25, 2026. United States Coast Guard SAUSA Cody A. McKinney is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On June 26, 2026, Edgardo Santiago-Colón pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case 24-456 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with drug trafficking within a state prison facility. Defendant was arrested on December 17, 2024. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 2026. AUSA Myriam Y. Fernández-González is in charge of the prosecution of the case. These prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
HSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard – Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department.
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Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — Puerto Rico — U.S. Department of Justice press release.