Home San Juan Press Releases 2010 Three Individuals Arrested for Bank Robbery and Use of a Firearm During the Comission of a Crime
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Three Individuals Arrested for Bank Robbery and Use of a Firearm During the Comission of a Crime

U.S. Attorney’s Office July 21, 2010
  • District of Puerto Rico (787) 766-5656

SAN JUAN, PR—Last night, Ariel Díaz Cordero, the reputed head of a gang of bank robbers was arrested by agents from the Police of Puerto Rico’s Bank Robbery Unit and FBI, pursuant to our warrant of arrest and complaint authorized by U.S. Magistrate Judge Marcos E. López on July, 16, announced United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez.

Ariel Díaz Cordero was arrested in relation to the July 14, 2010, robbery at the Banco Popular, El Señorial Shopping Center branch, in Cupey, PR. The video from the surveillance cameras reveal the use of violence and brandishing of firearms against the employees as well as clients. Díaz Cordero was arrested, without incident, at his residence in Summit Hills, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Consequent to his arrest, agents conducted a search warrant and found evidence that directly relates him to the robberies, and a firearm.

The other two defendants, Juan Carlos Pagán Febres and Saul Castoire Castro were arrested on Friday, July 16, for the same charges. Last Monday, they had their initial appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Justo Arenas and will have the preliminary hearing on August 2 at 10:30 a.m.

If convicted, defendants face up to 25 years for the bank robbery charge, and a minimum of seven years up to life in prison for the armed robbery charge, and fines up to $250,000.00.

The case was investigated by the FBI and Police of Puerto Rico’s Bank Robbery Unit and is being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel, Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio R. Bazán.

Criminal indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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