Home San Juan Press Releases 2009 FBI and Police of Puerto Rico Recover Stolen Cargo Container
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FBI and Police of Puerto Rico Recover Stolen Cargo Container

FBI San Juan April 17, 2009
  • Special Agent Carlos Osorio (787) 759-1550

On April 16, 2009, the FBI and the Police of Puerto Rico recovered a cargo container which had been stolen earlier that day from the Puerto Nuevo Piers located in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The cargo container had approximately 1071 bales of corn meal which had been purchased by the Puerto Rico Department of Education using federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture food distribution program. The cargo container with the food was sent from Elizabeth, New Jersey to San Juan, Puerto Rico via the shipping company, Horizon Lines, and it arrived in Puerto Rico on April 14, 2009.

On April 16, 2009, LUIS REYES-MARMOL, age 32, a U.S. permanent legal resident from the Dominican Republic, and YARELIS RIVERA-MARQUEZ, age 26, from Puerto Rico, both residents of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, were arrested and have been charged with Theft of Interstate Shipment.

The criminal complaint alleges Reyes-Marmol threaten and persuaded another individual to get a truck and steal the cargo container. The complaint further alleges that on April 16, 2009, Reyes-Marmol and this individual met at the Puerto Nuevo Piers where Reyes-Marmol instructed this individual to steal the cargo container and drive it to a gas station in Corozal, Puerto Rico. Shortly after the theft of the container, Reyes-Marmol and Rivera-Marquez met with this individual at the gas station. At approximately 5:00 p.m., FBI Agents and Police of Puerto Rico officers arrested Reyes-Marmol and Rivera-Marquez, as well as recovering the stolen cargo container.

It is believed Rivera-Marquez was attempting to negotiate the sale of the cargo container which they thought contained beer for approximately $25,000.00 dollars. If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Henwood.

The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of any guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial. The U.S. government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.