Individual Sentenced to 18 Months of Imprisonment for Introducing Controlled Substances Into the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, PR—Jonathan Velázquez-Méndez was sentenced yesterday, by Honorable Chief Judge José A. Fusté, to 18 months of imprisonment for attempting to introduce approximately 203 tablets of Alprazolam, better known as Xanax, into the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, announced United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez.

On November 10, 2010, defendant Jonathan Velázquez-Méndez was going through the process required for visitors to enter MDC in Guaynabo, PR. As he entered the checkpoint area, a correctional officer advised defendant Velázquez-Méndez that he would conduct a pat-down check on the defendant. Defendant Velázquez-Méndez informed the correctional officer that he needed to go to the front lobby area visitors’ bathroom “to check himself first.” When defendant Velázquez-Méndez returned from the bathroom, the correctional officer proceeded to pat-down the defendant, obtaining negative results. The correctional officer proceeded to inspect the bathroom area and found, inside the bathroom trash can, a zip lock bag with small cubes wrapped in plastic. The correctional officer asked defendant Velázquez-Méndez if the zip lock bag that was found in the bathroom belonged to him and the defendant admitted that the zip lock bag and its contents belonged to him. The zip lock bag contained 203 white-colored, rectangle-shaped tablets with the logo imprint “G3722," characteristic of Alprazolam (Xanax) tablets.

“This sentence should send a clear message to those who attempt to smuggle illegal contraband into a federal facility,” said USA Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. We will not tolerate this type of activity and will prosecute these offenders to the full extent of the law.”

This case was investigated by the Violent Crimes Squad from the Federal Bureau of Investigation in conjunction with the Special Investigative Section from the Metropolitan Detention Center and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elba Gorbea.