Five Individuals Arrested For Hobbs Act, Carjacking, And Firearms Offenses |
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Topics: Evinmotors
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U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Puerto Rico
1 March 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SAN JUAN, P.R. – On March 1st, a federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment against five individuals for interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act), carjacking, kidnapping, and possessing and brandishing a machinegun in furtherance of a crime of violence, announced United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez.
The indictment alleges that on February 19, in the District of Puerto Rico, José González-Cirino; Carlos Diaz-Medina; Adlay De Aza-Casillas; Egadier Omar Díaz-Andrades; and Eddie Escalera-Martínez, conspired to unlawfully take motorcycles from Evinmotors, a company engaged in the retail sale of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, watercraft, and boats, in the presence of a security guard, against his will by means of actual and threatened force, violence, and fear of injury, by threatening the security guard with a firearm and tying him up inside his vehicle in an attempt to commit the robbery.
In their attempt to commit the robbery, the defendants, aiding and abetting each other, possessed and brandished firearms, and took a white, four-door, 1993 Mitsubishi Mirage from the security guard, that had been transported, shipped, and received in interstate or foreign commerce -- by force, violence, and intimidation, with the intent to cause death and serious bodily harm. The defendants kidnapped the security guard by tying him up inside his vehicle while they drove around and tried to break into various warehouses to gain access to Evinmotors. Fortunately, the security guard was not harmed and defendants were ultimately unsuccessful in their attempted robbery. After alarms sounded, defendants fled the scene and were apprehended shortly thereafter by the Puerto Rico Police Department and the FBI, who are in charge of the investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David T. Henek. If convicted, the defendants face up to life in prison. Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.