Two Individuals Found Guilty By A Jury For Carjacking Mother And Two Young Children At Gas Station In Broad Daylight |
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U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Puerto Rico
29 March 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SAN JUAN, P.R. – Yesterday, Eddie Guerrero-Narváez and Keyvan Cartagena-Suárez, were found guilty of working together to commit a carjacking against a mother and her two young children, announced United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. United States Senior Judge Juan M. Pérez-Giménez presided over the trial.
On January 10, 2018, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Guerrero-Narváez with one-count of carjacking. After additional evidence was uncovered that placed Cartagena-Suárez at the scene of the crime, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment adding Cartagena-Suárez as a co-defendant.
During the 2-day trial, the government presented evidence that Guerrero-Narváez and Cartagena-Suárez worked together, in broad daylight, to carjack a BMW Sports Utility Vehicle from a mother, with her two young children in the backseat, at a Puma Gas station, located near the airport on Calle Los Angeles in Carolina, Puerto Rico. According to the testimony of the Victim, on January 3, 2018, Guerrero-Narváez came up to her as she attempted to exit her vehicle to pump gas. Guerrero-Narváez then threatened her and her children by stating that if she cooperated, they would not get hurt and gestured as if he had a weapon. Fearing for her life and the safety of her children, the Victim complied and allowed Guerrero-Narváez to take the vehicle.
Later that evening, Guerrero-Narváez was arrested in Carolina, around the corner from the BMW, with the keys to the car. Cartagena-Suárez was walking with Guerrero-Narváez at the time of his arrest. After finding Cartagena-Suárez’s fingerprints on the driver’s door handle, his driver’s license inside the car, and video surveillance showing Cartagena-Suárez and Guerrero-Narváez working together at the Puma gas station, Cartagena-Suárez was added to the Indictment. According to the testimony of an FBI Special Agent, during an interview, Cartagena-Suárez admitted to going to the gas station knowing that a carjacking would occur, being present for the carjacking, and getting into the stolen vehicle after Guerrero-Narváez took the BMW from the Victim.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David T. Henek. The defendants face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 12, 2019 at 10:15 am.