Three Police Officers, Two Civilians Arrested in Drug-Related Robbery

SAN JUAN, PR—On August 5, 2013, Police of Puerto Rico Officers FELIX RAMIREZ-RIVERA, JOSE ALBERTO NATAL GONZALEZ, and ANGEL MANUEL QUINONES MATOS as well as civilians FERNANDO REYES-ROJAS and FABIO TRINIDAD-MARTINEZ were taken into custody by the FBI. These individuals were charged with aiding and abetting each other in the assault and robbery of a person in the possession of $25,000 in government funds, and the use and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to the assault and robbery.

The federal complaint states that on the afternoon of August 5, 2013, special agents of the FBI were conducting physical surveillance in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. The FBI had planned a controlled drug purchase from TRINIDAD, who had offered to sell a kilogram of cocaine to an FBI confidential informant (CI). After TRINIDAD agreed to sell the kilogram of cocaine, REYES alerted the three officers that the transaction was going to occur, and an agreement to steal the purchase money from the CI was made amongst the five charged defendants.

As TRINIDAD approached the CI, RAMIREZ, QUINONEZ, and NATAL arrived in a marked Police of Puerto Rico Chevy TrailBlazer. Agents observed the three officers get out of the vehicle, and TRINIDAD began to flee the area on foot, dropping a small package.

As TRINIDAD fled on foot, NATAL drew a handgun and chased for a short distance, placing the lives of CI, TRINIDAD, and others in danger. Shortly after, NATAL returned to the area. RAMIREZ picked up the package dropped by TRINIDAD. RAMIREZ and QUINONES interacted with the CI and searched the vehicle driven by CI. RAMIREZ, QUINONES, and NATAL departed with the kilogram sized package and $25,000 which had been given to the CI by agents from the FBI funds in order to purchase the kilogram of cocaine from TRINIDAD.

If convicted, the defendants face up to a maximum of life in prison.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Henwood, and is being investigated by the FBI.

The public is reminded that a criminal complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.