Man Sentenced To 25 Years In Prison For 3 Carjackings

U.S. Attorney’s Office
District of Puerto Rico
24 January 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAN JUAN, P.R. – Today, U.S. District Court Judge Francisco A. Besosa sentenced Bernard Díaz-Pérez to 25 years in prison for committing three carjackings, announced United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the carjackings. Díaz-Pérez had plead guilty to the three carjackings on February 28, 2017.

According to court documents, on or about June 2, 2016, Bernard Díaz-Pérez and Jessenia Salgado-Ortiz, aiding and abetting each other, with the intent to cause death and serious bodily harm, did take a motor vehicle, to wit: a red 2008 Scion, model XD, that had been transported, shipped or received in interstate or foreign commerce, from the presence of F.N.R. and another female friend. During the carjacking, Díaz-Pérez sexually assaulted one of the victims. He also ordered the victims to move to the front passenger seat and then started to drive away from the location. The victims had to jump from the moving vehicle in order to escape the carjacking.

His co-conspirator, Jessenia Salgado-Ortiz also pled guilty on February 28, 2017. She was sentenced on August 8, 2017 to 71 months in prison.

Díaz-Pérez was also sentenced for two other carjackings which occurred on May 15 and 27, 2016, respectively. During both incidents, Diaz-Pérez forced the victims out of the cars using threats and a replica gun.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Max Pérez Bouret.