Guilty Pleas And Sentences

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Last week, several defendants pled guilty and others were sentenced in the District Court of Puerto Rico, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.

1. On May 26, 2020, United States District Court Chief Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí sentenced Isander Quiñones-Herrera to 51 months in prison for three counts of interference with commerce by threats or violence. The charges were based on defendant’s three separate robberies of Burger King restaurants in January and February 2018. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD), and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Juan C. Reyes.
2. On May 26, 2020, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí sentenced David Morales-Zenquis to 11 years in prison and 20 years of supervised release after pleading guilty earlier this year to charges of coercing a minor female into sending him sexually explicit images and videos via two popular internet instant messaging applications. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and was prosecuted by AUSA Ginette Milanes.
3. On May 26, 2020, Cresencio Olmo-Cruz was charged and pled guilty to one count of reentry of a removed alien whose removal was subsequent to a conviction for an aggravated felony. Olmo-Cruz reentered while he was on supervised release from his previous conviction and as such, his term of supervised release was also revoked. The case was investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and prosecuted by AUSA Linet Suárez.
4. On May 26, 2020, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí sentenced José Parra Gutiérrez to 44 months’ imprisonment for his involvement in a conspiracy to commit money laundering. The indictment charged two Colombian citizens and three American citizens with conspiracy to launder drug proceeds. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and prosecuted by AUSA Maritza González.
5. On May 26, 2020, US District Court Chief Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí sentenced Jason Osorio-Nieves to time served, approximately 12 months, for a firearm violation. On May 27, 2019, Osorio-Nieves illegally possessed a pistol while being an illegal alien. The case was investigated by ATF and prosecuted by AUSA Jeanette Collazo.
6. On May 26, 2020, US District Court Chief Judge Gustavo A. Gelpí sentenced Stephanie Herrera-Montañez to 57 months’ imprisonment for violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, and committing bank robbery and burglary. Herrera-Montañez was a member of an organization that was responsible for the commission of multiple robberies and violent acts. Specifically, Herrera-Montañez served as a lookout for the organization. The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by AUSA Kelly Zenón.
7. On May 26, 2020, Alexis Alexander-Montas Valenzuela pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marcos E. López for attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The defendant could face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The case was investigated by HSI and prosecuted by AUSA Corinne Cordero.
8. On May 26, 2020, Victor M. Valcarcel-Delgado pled guilty to one count of impersonating an officer before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marcos E. López. Defendant was pretending to be an officer or an employee of the United States, and in that capacity obtained money from several individuals. The term of imprisonment per the applicable statute is not more than three years. AUSA Myriam Fernández is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
9. On May 27, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Aida Delgado-Colón sentenced Dalvin Trinidad-Santana to time served, approximately five months, and one year of supervised release for one count of reentry of a removed alien. On November 20, 2019, CBP Office of Air and Marine assets stopped a vessel carrying defendant and 31 others approximately 20 nautical miles off the coast of Puerto Rico. Defendant was transferred to the Coast Guard and then to Border Patrol, and ultimately pled guilty to the charges as filed. Special Assistant United States Attorney (SAUSA) Seth Tremble was in charge of the prosecution of the case.
10. On May 27, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Aida Delgado-Colón sentenced Michael J. Oquendo-Carrión to 37 months’ imprisonment for possession of a machinegun. The case was investigated by HSI and prosecuted by SAUSA Michele Colón.
11. On May 27, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Aida Delgado-Colón sentenced José R. López Rosario to 96 months’ imprisonment for his participation in a drug trafficking conspiracy. The case was investigated by HSI and the US Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by AUSA Marc Chattah.
12. On May 27, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Aida Delgado-Colón sentenced Ángel O. Rivera Ferrer to 130 months’ imprisonment for his participation in two separate drug trafficking conspiracies. The cases were investigated by HSI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by AUSA Marc Chattah.
13. On May 27, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge Aida Delgado-Colón sentenced Eric R. Piñero to 130 months’ imprisonment for his participation in two separate drug trafficking conspiracies. The cases were investigated by HSI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and prosecuted by AUSA Marc Chattah.
14. On May 28, 2020, Senior District Court Judge Daniel R. Domínguez sentenced Luis Cataño Landan to 14 months’ imprisonment for his involvement in a large-scale drug conspiracy, and to 60 months as to a firearms violations count, to be served consecutively with each other for a total term of 74 months, this combined with a sentence of 43 months for a previous case, for a total sentence of 117 months. Cataño Landan had previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute narcotics and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The charged drug conspiracy included 44 defendants involved in the distribution of cocaine base (crack), heroin, cocaine, marihuana, Oxycodone (Percocet), and Alprazolam (Xanax) in Caguas and surrounding areas. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD), Caguas Strike Force Unit, with the collaboration of DEA and the U.S. Marshals. AUSA Corinne Cordero Romo was in charge of the prosecution of the case.
15. On May 28, 2020, Senior District Court Judge Daniel R. Domínguez sentenced Kenneth Cedeño to 87 months’ imprisonment and eight years of supervised release for his involvement in a large-scale drug conspiracy.  Cedeño had previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute narcotics. The charged drug conspiracy included 44 defendants involved in the distribution of crack, heroin, cocaine, marihuana, Percocet, and Xanax in Caguas and surrounding areas. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD), Caguas Strike Force Unit, with the collaboration of DEA and the U.S. Marshals.  AUSA Corinne Cordero Romo was in charge of the prosecution of the case.
16. On May 28, 2020, Ricardo Keith Edwin pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine before U.S. District Court Judge Francisco A. Besosa. The defendant traveled from Tortola, British Virgin Islands with his co-conspirator in order to exchange kilograms of cocaine for U.S. Currency. The applicable penalties are a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life imprisonment, and a supervised release term of not less than 5 years. AUSA Vanessa Bonhomme is in charge of the prosecution of the case.

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