Three Individuals Indicted and Arrested for Stealing FBI Property
| U.S. Attorney’s Office July 15, 2011 |
SAN JUAN, PR—Today, three individuals were arrested for stealing copper pipes from FBI offices in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, announced United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Rosa Emilia Rodriguez-Velez. On July 13, 2011, a federal grand jury indicted Rey Levy Hernandez-Robles (18 years old), Josue Sanchez-Maldonado (22), and Jose A. Gonzalez-Lugo (28) for willfully committing a depredation against property of the United States.
The defendants aided and abetted each other, willfully and by means of a hack saw, injured and committed a depredation against property of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, specifically the air condition unit, and the resulting damage was in excess of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000).
“Theft of copper is quickly becoming a fast-growing problem in our society. Theft of copper is a crime whether it is stolen from the federal government or elsewhere with serious penalties,” said Luis Fraticelli, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI-San Juan Field Office. “The individuals arrested today for this theft are very young and facing federal charges, as well as time in jail. Upon their conviction, they will have a criminal record which will haunt them for the rest of their lives.”
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a fine of 250,000 dollars, and a supervised release term of not more than three years. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carme Marquez and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, San Juan Field Office.