SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The last two defendants in the Hipopótamo Restaurant robbery that resulted on the murder of Jesús Francisco Pérez — a 15-year-old minor who was an employee of the restaurant, were sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado-Hernández.
Basilio Matías-Fajardo was sentenced to 21 years in prison and a supervised release term of five years. Matías-Fajardo, an employee of the El Hipopótamo restaurant, was convicted by a federal jury on August 12, 2024, for conspiracy to interfere with commerce through robbery, aiding and abetting in the interference with commerce through robbery, and aiding and abetting the use, carrying, and discharging of a firearm during and in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Defendant Luis Cabán-Nieves was sentenced to 11 years in prison and a supervised release term of five years for his participation during the robbery.
Yesterday, November 13, 2024, defendant Geofley Jomar Pérez, was sentenced to 31 years and nine months in prison, and a supervised release term of five years; and defendant Edwin Peña-Valdéz was sentenced to eight years and six months in prison, and a supervised release term of three years.
On Tuesday, November 12, 2024, Jospe Jomar Santos-Mercado was sentenced to 24 years and three months in prison, and a supervised release term of five years; and defendant Luis Aulet-Maldonado was sentenced to 26 years and three months in prison, and a supervised release term of five years.
According to court documents, the defendants planned and executed the armed robbery at the restaurant El Hipopótamo, during which three victims were kidnapped and the minor male victim was shot twice and killed.
U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico; and Joseph González, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI is investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Linet Suárez and Julian Radzinschi of the Violent Crime Division prosecuted the case.
