SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney, in conjunction with our partner agencies in the Homeland Security Task Force (“HSTF”) announce the following investigative and prosecutorial results for the week of April 27 through May 3, 2026. The HSTF is a permanent, interagency law enforcement task force created by executive order to combat transnational criminal organizations—including cartels, trafficking networks, and foreign terrorist organizations.
Indictments:
- On April 30, 2026, a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging Jhon Dennis Guerrero-Trotman, Jaime José Marval-Gutiérrez, José Gregorio Pereira-Orfila, and Héctor Gregorio Jiménez-Herrera with conspiracy and importation of cocaine, and conspiracy to possess and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. According to court documents, in April 2026, the defendants knowingly and intentionally imported into the United States, from Venezuela and other places, five kilograms or more of cocaine. Specifically, on April 26, 2026, HSTF seized 48 packages that contained approximately 1,350.2 kilograms of cocaine. Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Antonio J. López-Rivera is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On April 29, 2026, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging Douglas Antonio Fernández-Rodríguez with conspiracy and importation of cocaine from Venezuela and other places, into Puerto Rico. Fernández-Rodríguez is also charged with knowingly entering or attempting to enter the United States illegally. Specifically, on or about March 11, 2026, HSTF seized approximately 709.1 kilograms of cocaine. United States Coast Guard Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Cody A. McKinney is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On April 29, 2026, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging José Fernando Huggins-Figueroa with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, attempt to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime. Specifically, on April 22, 2026, HSTF seized 20 kilograms of cocaine. AUSA Camille García is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On April 29, 2026, a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging Vilorio Camilo Polo-Padilla and Franklin Reyes with conspiracy to import cocaine, attempt to import cocaine, improper entry by alien, and re-entry of removed alien. Specifically, on April 17, 2026, HSTF seized 124 kilograms of cocaine. AUSA Camille García is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
Convictions through Guilty Pleas:
- On April 29, 2026, Rosemary Santiago-Serrano pleaded guilty to Count One in CR Case 25-392 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiring to distribute controlled substances in public housing projects and other areas in and around Cayey, Puerto Rico. Defendant was arrested on September 26, 2026. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for July 29, 2026. AUSA R. Vance Eaton is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On April 28, 2026, Edwin Gabriel Vázquez-Colón, a.k.a. “Cuco”, pleaded guilty to Counts 1 and 7 in CR Case 24-170 (RAM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with participating in a violent drug trafficking organization that operated in and around the Jardines de Selles Public Housing Project in San Juan, Puerto Rico and with being armed with a machinegun while doing so. Defendant was arrested on April 24, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for July 27, 2026. AUSAs Andrés Orr and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On April 28, 2026, Christian Maldonado-López, a.k.a “Ninja,” pleaded guilty to Counts 1 and 6 in CR Case 23-353 (GMM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with participating in a violent drug trafficking organization that operated in and around Manatí, Puerto Rico and with being armed while doing so. Defendant was arrested on February 16, 2024. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for July 27, 2026. AUSAs
Andrés Orr and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On April 28, 2026, César Tyron Villegas-Cintrón, pleaded guilty to Counts 1 and 6 in CR Case 23-353 (GMM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with participating in a violent drug trafficking organization that operated in and around Manatí, Puerto Rico and with being armed with a machinegun while doing so. Defendant was arrested on September 22, 2023. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for July 21, 2026. AUSAs Andrés Orr and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On April 28, 2026, Roberto Rodríguez-Payano pleaded guilty to Count One for violations to 21 U.S.C. Sections 959(a), 960(a)(3) & (b)(1)(B)(ii) and 963 in CR Case 22-520(RAM). According to the Indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiring to manufacture and distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, a Schedule II Narcotic Drug Controlled Substance, intending, knowing, or having reasonable cause to believe that such mixture or substance would be unlawfully imported into the United States. Rodríguez-Payano was extradited from the Dominican Republic on August 21, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for July 28, 2026. AUSA Camille García is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
Sentencings:
- On April 27, 2026, Jey Xander Omar González-Díaz was sentenced by Judge Aida M. Delgado-Colón to a two-year term of probation for failing to report that he transported more than $10,000 into the United States. According to court documents, defendant was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico on September 18, 2025, in CR Case 25-391, and pled guilty to the charge on January 14, 2026. Social Security Administration SAUSA Niranjan Emani is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On April 28, 2026, Daniel Rivera-Molina was sentenced by Judge Pedro A. Delgado to a term of imprisonment of time served (equal to six months) to be followed by a term of supervised release of one year for reentry of removed alien after an aggravated felony conviction. According to court documents, defendant was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico on November 6, 2025, in CR Case 25-473 (PAD), and pled guilty to the charge(s) on March 23, 2026. Department of Homeland Security SAUSASteven Liong-Rodríguez is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On April 27, 2026, Jayson Camacho-Rodriguez was sentenced by Judge Gina Mendez-Miro to time served for conspiring to distribute between 500 grams and 2 kilograms of cocaine. According to court documents, defendant was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico on May 22, 2024, in CR Case 24-188 (GMM), and pled guilty to the charge(s) on January 26, 2026. AUSA R. Vance Eaton is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On April 27, 2026, Luis Laboy-Nadal was sentenced by Judge Gina Méndez-Miró to ten years of imprisonment for conspiring to distribute between 3.5 kilograms and 5 kilograms cocaine. According to court documents, defendant was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico on May 22, 2024, in CR Case 24-188 (GMM), and pled guilty to the charge(s) on January 27, 2026. AUSA R. Vance Eaton is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On April 28, 2026, Ilia Martínez-Pagán was sentenced by Judge Gina Méndez-Miró to five years of imprisonment for conspiring to distribute between 500 grams and 2 kilograms cocaine. According to court documents, defendant was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico on May 22, 2024, in CR Case 24-188 (GMM), and pled guilty to the charge(s) on January 27, 2026. AUSA R. Vance Eaton is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On April 28, 2026, Miguel Ángel Pastrana-Ríos was sentenced by Judge María Antongiorgi-Jordán to 135 months of imprisonment and 5 years on supervised release for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and distributing 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, a Schedule II Narcotic Drug Controlled Substance. According to court documents, the defendant was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico on February 27, 2025, in CR Case 25-012 (MAJ), and pled guilty to the charge(s) on September 25, 2025.
These prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
HSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard – Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department.
