Juan E. Seary-Colón, a.k.a. “Ricky Diablo” Found Guilty Of Hobbs Act Robbery And Murder

Topics:  Piezas Importadas, David Méndez-Calderón

U.S. Attorney’s Office
District of Puerto Rico
27 February 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAN JUAN, PR – Yesterday, after a four-day jury trial, a jury found Juan E. Seary-Colón, a.k.a. “Ricky Diablo” guilty of Hobbs Act robbery and murder, announced United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. The FBI and the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) were in charge of the investigation. On April 19, 2012, Seary-Colón was charged in a four-count indictment with interference of commerce by robbery, possession, and use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death, and possession of a firearm by prohibited person.

During trial, the government showed that on April 3, 2012, Juan E. Seary-Colón, aka “Ricky Diablo,” entered Piezas Importadas Inc., a business dedicated to the sale of automobile parts in Carolina, PR, and without warning shot the manager, David Méndez-Calderón, killing him. The government presented eyewitness testimony that narrated how the defendant and another assailant entered the store, shot Mr. Méndez-Calderón, and stole approximately $1,000.00 from Piezas Importadas’ employees. Seary-Colón was identified by eyewitnesses in the days after the robbery and was arrested by PRPD on April 6, 2012. The defendant will be sentenced on June 5, 2018 before the Honorable District Judge Gustavo A. Gelpi.

“I hope that this conviction will help Mr. Méndez-Calderón’s family find some closure,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “We will continue to work diligently to prosecute violent criminals to the fullest extent of the law. Senseless acts of violence which threaten our communities and innocent victims will not be tolerated.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas Cannon and Scott Anderson.