Arrests of Wallace Hodge-Munoz and Leonel U. Garcia-Concepcion on Carjacking Charges
| FBI San Juan February 26, 2014 |
Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Carlos Cases of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) San Juan Division announced the arrests of Wallace Hodge-Munoz and Leonel U. Garcia-Concepcion for carjacking and carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime. On February 26, 2014, Wallace Hodge-Munoz and Leonel U. Garcia-Concepcion were taken into custody by the FBI.
The criminal complaint states that on October 19, 2012, Victim 1 was driving a vehicle with Wallace Hodge-Munoz and Leonel U. Garcia-Concepcion as passengers.
Victim 1, Hodge-Munoz, and Garcia-Concepcion drove to Barrio Jagueyes Pajilla, Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico. Upon arrival, the area was dark and isolated. Hodge-Munoz pointed the weapon at Victim’s 1 head and fired four times.
Victim 1 succumbed to the sustained wounds, causing the vehicle to lose control onto the side of the road. After shooting Victim 1, Hodge-Munoz and Garcia-Concepcion exited the vehicle. A short time later, Victim 2 approached the area of the crime scene in her vehicle. Victim 2 slowed her vehicle down because she thought there was a car accident ahead on the road. Hodge-Munoz and Garcia-Concepcion, both bearing Glock pistols, proceeded to approach Victim’s 2 vehicle.
Victim 2, in fear for her life, stopped the vehicle after observing Hodge-Munoz pointing a firearm at her. Victim 2 exited her vehicle. Hodge-Munoz and Garcia-Concepcion entered Victim’s vehicle and drove away.
Eventually, Hodge-Munoz and Garcia-Concepcion lost control of Victim’s 2 vehicle while driving away and crashed the same nearby.
If convicted, the defendants face up to a maximum of 22 years’ imprisonment for taking a vehicle from a person by force and violence or by intimidation (carjacking) and for the use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime.
This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Kelly Zenon, and it 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.