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Press Release

Man Sentenced To 560 Months In Prison For Robbery And Murder Of Two Department Of Natural Resources Rangers In March Of 2010

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Puerto Rico

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Jonathan Ortiz-Torres was sentenced to 560 months in prison and five years of supervised release for interference of commerce by robbery, announced United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. Ortiz-Torres pled guilty on May 27, 2014.

On February 9, 2011, Jonathan Ortiz-Torres was charged, along with Ángel Santana-Espinet and Leroy Santana-Rosado, with violations of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(b)(3) (interference of commerce by robbery); and Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(j), 924(a)(2), and 2 (possession of a stolen firearm). Ortiz-Torres and Santana-Espinet were also charged with violations of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(c)(1)(A), 924 (j) and 2 (possession and use of a stolen firearm).

According to the superseding indictment, on March 23, 2010, the defendants, aiding and abetting each other, by force, violence and intimidation, did take one .9mm caliber Smith and Wesson Pistol from the person or presence of Rangers of the Department of Natural Resources Félix Rodríguez Gómez and Kenneth Omar Betancourt, then acting as security guards at Reparto Industrial in Río Piedras, PR, and shot and killed them. The defendants fled the scene but were later arrested by PRPD agents after a high speed chase.

Defendant Ángel Santana-Espinet pled guilty on August 21, 2012, to count two of the superseding indictment, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, and was sentenced to 380 months in prison and eight years of supervised release. Defendant Leroy Santana-Rosado plead guilty on March 24, 2014, to count one of the superseding indictment, Interference with Commerce by Threat of Violence, and was sentenced to 87 months in prison and three years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Puerto Rico Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Julia Díaz-Rex.

Updated October 14, 2015