Former Puerto Rico Police Officer Sentenced to 24 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking Crimes
| U.S. Attorney’s Office May 18, 2012 |
SAN JUAN—David González-Pérez, a former Puerto Rico Police officer from Arecibo, Puerto Rico, was sentenced yesterday to 24 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Aida Delgado-Colón for conspiracy and attempt to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, announced U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. González-Pérez was found guilty of 28 counts of conspiracy and attempt to possess with intent to distribute cocaine after a two-week trial in August 2011.
David González-Pérez was indicted in a 70-count indictment, along with 16 other individuals who were convicted on September 14, 2010. From in or about September 2009 until March 2010, González-Pérez participated in 15 drug transactions, which totalled over 200 kilograms of cocaine and received $36,000 in payments for his security services during the drug transactions. González-Pérez also recruited 15 others to provide armed security with him during these drug transactions, including his brother and sister-in-law.
The indictment is part of Operation Guard Shack, in which 133 defendants were indicted as the result of 125 undercover drug transactions conducted by the FBI in several locations in Puerto Rico from July 2008 to September 2010. The defendants’ participation in the drug transactions consisted of providing armed protection to a drug dealer during the sale of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine. In exchange for the security services during the undercover drug transactions, the defendants received payments ranging from $500 to $4,500 per transaction.
“This sentence reflects the serious nature of the offenses charged in this police corruption case,” said U.S. Attorney Rodríguez-Vélez. “Police corruption undermines our citizens’ trust in those who are sworn to uphold law and order in our communities. We hope that this tough sentence sends a clear message that this conduct is reprehensible and carries serious consequences”.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s San Juan Field Office, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Courtney L. Coker and Jacqueline D. Novas.