Victor M. Duluc-Mendez and a Minor Arrested in Connection with Carjacking |
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FBI San Juan Division
Special Agent Moises Quiñones
September 30, 2013
SAN JUAN—Special Agent in Charge Carlos Cases of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), San Juan Division, announced the arrest of Victor Manuel Duluc-Mendez and a minor involved in carjacking. On September 28, 2013, Victor Manuel Duluc-Mendez and a minor were taken into custody by the FBI. Victor Manuel Duluc-Mendez and the minor were charged with carjacking.
A federal complaint states that on September 8, 2013, at approximately 2:00 p.m., a carjacking and murder were committed on Road 853, kilometer 8.8, Rosa Alvarez Sector in Carolina, Puerto Rico.
Roy Figueiredo-Ramos (victim), an adult male, arrived at the Las Dalias Public Housing Project in San Juan, around 11:45 a.m. and parked in front of building 29 of the public housing project. An unknown male, later identified as Victor Manuel Duluc-Mendez (Duluc-Mendez approached the victim and inquired with him if he was interested in selling the vehicle. The victim replied no but that he was willing to rent it. Another male (“Person 1”) was also present during the conversation. Shortly after, another male individual identified as AAD (minor) joined the conversation. AAD expressed that he liked the 2002 Toyota Camry.
Duluc-Mendez, AAD, and Person 1 stepped away from the victim’s vehicle and started a conversation stating they were going to take the vehicle and keep it for themselves. AAD went into his apartment on the fourth floor of building 29 to grab a pistol. The pistol was a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson with a silver color slide and black bottom.
Person 1 left the group and returned driving a black-color Hyundai Accent vehicle, accompanied by another individual (“Person 2”), and instructed Duluc-Mendez to drive the victim’s vehicle and for AAD to get in the rear right passenger seat. Person 1 instructed Duluc-Mendez to follow the Hyundai Accent.
Duluc-Mendez drove the victim’s vehicle into the Banco Popular Branch, located at Plaza Escorial shopping center with AAD and the victim. Person 1 and Person 2 stayed outside the Banco Popular branch immediate area. Duluc-Mendez parked the vehicle in the Banco Popular’s parking lot. AAD requested the victim’s ATM card and the PIN. The victim complied and gave the ATM card to Duluc-Mendez. Duluc-Mendez went to the ATM and withdrew $150.
Duluc-Mendez departed the Banco Popular Branch along with the victim and AAD. Person 1 and Person 2 also departed the area. Duluc-Mendez followed Person 1 towards Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico. While driving through a rural area between Trujillo Alto and Carolina, Person 1 stopped the Hyundai Accent. Duluc-Mendez stopped behind Person 1’s vehicle. Person 1 opened the driver side door of his vehicle and yelled “Aqui” (meaning "Here"). AAD told the victim to step out to verify a flat tire on the vehicle. The victim and AAD exited the vehicle. The victim verified the front right tire of the vehicle and when he turned around in the direction of AAD, AAD produced the pistol, pointed it at the victim’s head, and fired one shot. The victim fell to the ground and succumbed to the sustained wounds.
Upon shooting the victim, Person 1 yelled, "Vamonos que por aqui vive mi mama" (meaning “Let’s go, my mom lives close by”). AAD got into the front right passenger side of the victim’s vehicle, and Duluc-Mendez drove away following Person 1 and Person 2. They all returned to Las Dalias PHP. Upon arriving to Las Dalias PHP, AAD told Person 1 the victim’s vehicle belongs to him now since he killed the victim.
If convicted, the defendants face up to a maximum of life in prison for taking a vehicle from a person by force and violence or by intimidation (carjacking).
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Justin Martin, and it is being investigated by the Save Our Streets (SOS) Task Force, composed of the FBI, Police of Puerto Rico, and the San Juan Municipal Police.
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.