Arrest of Efrain Rivera-Ramos

SAN JUAN, PR—Special Agent in Charge Carlos Cases of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) San Juan Division, announced the arrest of EFRAIN RIVERA-RAMOS. On March 11, 2014, EFRAIN RIVERA-RAMOS was taken into custody by the FBI and charged with possession of a machine gun and aiding and abetting the possession of firearms by a convicted felon.

A federal complaint states on or about March 14, 2013, the Police of Puerto Rico (POPR), to include the Caguas Special Arrest Units and members of the United States Marshals Service Puerto Rico Violent Offender Task Force (PRVOTF), executed an outstanding arrest warrant for violations of Puerto Rico weapons law against EFRAIN RIVERA-RAMOS (hereinafter “RIVERA-RAMOS”) at Colinas de Magnolias Public Housing Project (PHP), apartment number 127, Juncos.

Once the officers gained entrance to the apartment, RIVERA-RAMOS was found hiding under a bed of one of the rooms; no other occupants were present. Inside the room where RIVERA-RAMOS was arrested, a Glock pistol, caliber .40, model 22, serial number ABC-406 was seized from the night table next to the bed. When one of the POPR agents was rendering the weapon safe, RIVERA-RAMOS voluntarily told him to be careful because it was chipped and fired rapidly. RIVERA-RAMOS admitted to a POPR officer that the recuperated weapon was his, that he bought it for $2,000, and that it was already automatic when he bought it.

Although the underlying facts served as the basis for a criminal state prosecution, the same did not result in either a conviction or acquittal, as the charges were dismissed for procedural reasons.

In another incident, on the morning of March 11, 2014, RIVERA-RAMOS was arrested by officers from the POPR following a shooting between POPR and some individuals on the night of March 10, 2014.

On the night of March 10, 2014, Rivera-Ramos was with JANCARLOS VELAZQUEZ-VAZQUEZ and RAFAEL RODRIGUEZ-CARRASQUILLO also known as RAFA. They were at the “Plaza de Caballos” in Humacao, Puerto Rico in order to conduct a weapons transaction. RIVERA-RAMOS further stated that each one of them possessed a “corta” (hand gun) and that his was an empty 9mm Glock. In addition to the hand guns they also possessed two “palos,” meaning long weapons, that were in the center of the vehicle available for whoever needed them.

If convicted, the defendant faces up to a maximum of 20 years in prison. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Max Perez-Bouret 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. The U.S. government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.