Task Force (HSTF) Prosecutions (October 5 through October 9, 2026)
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting United States Attorney, in conjunction with our partner agencies in the Homeland Security Task Force (“HSTF”) announce the following prosecutorial results for the week of October 5 through October 9, 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.
Convictions through Guilty Pleas:
On October 6, 2026, Gregory Vega-De Jesús pleaded guilty to transportation of illegal aliens, in Criminal Case 26-317 (MAJ). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiring to bring illegal aliens to the United States for financial gain, aiding and assisting entry of an aggravated felon into the United States, and transporting illegal aliens within the United States. Defendant was arrested on July 22, 2026. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for January 21, 2027. AUSA Steven Liong-Rodríguez is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
On October 8, 2026, Roberto Crispín Padilla pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for January 20, 2027. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
On October 8, 2026, Ángel Luis Álvarez Torres pleaded guilty to Counts One and Seven in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for January 20, 2027. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
Sentencings:
On October 5, 2026, Eli Y. Couvertier-Pollock, a.k.a. “Tata/Maike/Maike Casiano” was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Camille Vélez-Rivé to fifteen (15) years of imprisonment to be followed by ten (10) years of supervised release for his participation in a violent drug trafficking organization that worked out of various Public Housing Projects in the Carolina and San Juan areas, principally the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on December 5, 2024, in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ), and pleaded guilty on June 16, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
On October 6, 2026, Alejandro Veliz was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Raúl Arias Marxuach to 24 months of imprisonment and 4 years of supervised release for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of more than five grams of methamphetamine. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on April 24, 2026, in Criminal Case 25-203 (RAM), and pleaded guilty on December 9, 2025. AUSA Camille García Jiménez was in charge of the prosecution of the case.
On October 7, 2026, Joshua E. Bula-Cartagena, a.k.a. “Inquilino/El Corista” was sentenced by United States District Court Judge María Antiongiorgi-Jordán to ten (10) years of imprisonment to be followed by eight (8) years of supervised release for his participation in a violent drug trafficking organization that worked out of various Public Housing Projects in the Carolina and San Juan areas, principally the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on December 5, 2024, in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ), and pleaded guilty on July 9, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
On October 8, 2026, Ángel M. Franqui-González, a.k.a. “Blanquito” was sentenced by United States District Court Judge María Antiongiorgi-Jordán to six (6) years of imprisonment to be followed by six (6) years of supervised release for his participation in a violent drug trafficking organization that worked out of various Public Housing Projects in the Carolina and San Juan areas, principally the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on December 5, 2024, in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ), and pleaded guilty on June 11, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
On October 9, 2026, Melvis Marcano González was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Pedro Delgado to 70 months of imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 225 kilograms of cocaine aboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on April 12, 2022, in Criminal Case 21-317 (PAD), and pleaded guilty on July 14, 2026. AUSA Camille García Jiménez was in charge of the prosecution of the case.
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.
