Over 100 Indicted In Puerto Rico

News Americas, SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Thurs. July 23, 2015: Over 100 people have been indicted in the District of Puerto Rico.

A nine count federal indictment was unsealed Wednesday charge 105 people with racketeering, drug trafficking, drive-by shooting murders and related firearm offenses.

The indictment alleges that the defendants are part of a criminal organization known as La Rompe ONU.  Through its criminal activities “La Rompe ONU” enriched its members and maintained and increased the power of the organization.

Members of La Rompe ONU would sell crack, cocaine, heroin and marihuana in public housing projects, including: Jardines del Paraíso, Villa Andalucía, Alturas de Cupey, Jardines de Cupey, Brisas de Cupey, Los Claveles, Nuestra Señora de Covodonga, Los Lirios, Jardines de Monte Hatillo, Jardines de Campo Rico, Jardines de Berwind, San Martín, Monte Park and Villa Lomas Verdes Public Housing Projects; as well as El Polvorín Ward, Mango Sector and other surrounding areas within the municipalities of San Juan, Trujillo Alto and Carolina, PR.

Moreover, members of the organization used violence and intimidation, including murder, to increase the power, territory and profits of La Rompe ONU.

Members of La Rompe ONU had different roles in order to further the goals of the enterprise.  As alleged in the indictment, 35 leaders/drug point owners/drug point administrators, who directed and supervised the organization’s criminal activities; 25 enforcers; eight suppliers; 11 runners; 25 sellers; and one drug processor.

According to the indictment, as part of the racketeering conspiracy, the organization committed 12 murders, including three massacres.

According to the indictment, 69 of the 105 defendants are charged with using and carrying firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Thirty-two firearms were seized from the defendants during the investigation, and they face a forfeiture allegation of $82 million.

Defendants are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty.