Guilty Verdict in Firearms Case

SAN JUAN—After a two-hour jury deliberation yesterday evening, defendants Edwin Otero-Marquez, Isaias Mendoza-Ortega, Rafael Martínez-Trinidad, Edwin Otero-Díaz, Brian Pérez-Torres, Ángel Fernández-Orge and José A. De la Cruz-Vázquez were found guilty of possession of a firearm in a school zone and of aiding and abetting, announced today United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. Defendants Otero-Marquez and Mendoza-Ortega were also found guilty of being felons in possession of firearms and ammunition.

On February 16, 2012, a shootout took place at the Jardines de Oriente Public Housing Project in Humacao, Puerto Rico, during which two individuals were killed. Puerto Rico Police Department Officers arrived at the scene and observed several individuals run into a sewage tunnel. When the officers arrived at the tunnel, they found the seven defendants, along with various items, including black gloves, ski masks, winter caps, jackets, and seven firearms.

The firearms found were three Springfield Armory pistols, two Glock pistols, one Smith & Wesson pistol, a revolver, six Glock magazines, one long Glock magazine, one Pro Way magazine, four Springfield Armory magazines, one Smith & Wesson magazine, and 10 loose rounds.

“We congratulate the agents who investigated this case and our attorneys for the successful prosecution of this case,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Puerto Rico Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Cesar S. Rivera-Giraud and Alberto López-Rocafort. Defendants are scheduled to be sentenced in March 2014 and are facing a possible sentence of five years in prison. Otero-Marquez and Mendoza-Ortega are facing up to 15 years in prison.