Arrests of Elvin Manuel Otero Tarzia, Sebastian Angelo Saldana, Kevin Rivera Ruiz, and a Male Juvenile |
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FBI San Juan Division
Special Agent Moises Quiñones
January 24, 2014
Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Carlos Cases of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) San Juan Division announced the arrests of Elvin Manuel Otero Tarzia, Sebatian Angelo Saldana, Kevin Rivera Ruiz, and K.R.R., a male juvenile, for carjacking. On January 21, 2014, the above mentioned individuals were taken into custody by the FBI.
The criminal complaint states that on January 21, 2014, at approximately 4:00 a.m., D.V.L. parked his vehicle in front of La Nueva Jagua, Barrio Camarones, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Few minutes later, a 1996 blue Mitsubishi parked next to him. Immediately after, an individual wearing a dark sweater with a hood opened the passenger’s door of D.V.L.’s vehicle and told him to get on the ground while pointing a long barrel weapon at him. D.V.L. complied and moved next to a palm tree and observed when the blue Mitsubishi Montero and his vehicle were leaving the area.
At this time, D.V.L. entered into his friend’s vehicle and started following the vehicles. D.V.L. and his friend were able to catch up and follow the vehicles. During the chase of the vehicles, D.V.L. observed when an unknown subject, who was sitting on the passenger’s side of his vehicle, pointed a long barrel weapon at him. D.V.L. and his friend, fearing for their lives, left the area and went to the Guaynabo Municipal Police Precinct, Hato Nuevo, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.
An officer from the Guaynabo Municipal Police broadcasted the description of D.V.L.’s vehicle over their radio system. Officers that were in the area saw the vehicle that was traveling north on the Martinez Nadal Expressway, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, next to the 1996 blue Mitsubishi and tried to intervene with the vehicles. After a hot pursuit ensued, the police officers arrested K. R. R., a male juvenile 17 years of age; Kevin Rivera Ruiz; and Sebastian Angelo Saldaña in the Mitsubishi Montero. In D.V.L.’s vehicle, Guaynabo police officers arrested Elvin Manuel Otero Tarzia, another individual fled from vehicle.
If convicted, the defendants face up to a maximum of 15 years’ imprisonment for taking a vehicle from a person by force and violence or by intimidation (carjacking).
This case is being prosecuted by United States Attorney Carmen Marquez, 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.