Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Nine Individuals Indicted for the Murder of a Federal Bureau of Prisons Correctional Officer
SAN JUAN, P.R. - On January 28, 2015 a Federal Grand Jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned a six count indictment charging nine individuals for the murder of Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati-Casañas, a Federal Bureau of Prisons Correctional Officer, announced United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Rosa Emilia Rodríguez Vélez.
The indictment charges that, on or about February 26, 2013, in the District of Puerto Rico, Oscar Martínez-Hernández, a.k.a. “Cali;” Ángel D. Ramos-Cruz, a.k.a. “Api;” Miguel Díaz-Rivera, a.k.a. “Bolo;” Juan Quiñones-Meléndez, a.k.a. “El Manco;” Orlando Mojica-Rodríguez, a.k.a. “Yogui;” Jayson Rodríguez-González, a.k.a. “Gonzo;” Carlos Rosado-Rosado, a.k.a. “Cano;” Alexander Rosario de León, a.k.a. “Coquí;” and Jancarlos Velázquez-Vázquez, a.k.a. “Jan,” the defendants herein, together with other persons known and unknown to the Grand Jury, aiding and abetting each other, did, with premeditation and malice aforethought, unlawfully kill Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati, a Federal Bureau of Prisons Correctional Officer, an officer and employee of the United States, while he was engaged in and on account of the performance of his official duties.
Counts one and two are charges related to the murder of Lieutenant Albarati. Counts three and four are charges related to the murder for hire of Lieutenant Albarati. Finally, Counts five and six are charges related to the firearms used in the commission of the violent felonies, murder and murder for hire.
Count two of the indictment sets forth the participation of the nine defendants in the conspiracy to commit murder. The purpose and object of the conspiracy was that the defendants would carry out the murder of Lieutenant Albarati, thereby eliminating him as a correctional officer at the Metropolitan Detention Center, and as a means of ensuring that the officer would no longer exercise his substantial investigative authority against the defendants, and be unable to conduct seizures of contraband, including cellular phones, which were forbidden at the detention facility.
According to the indictment, defendants [1] Martínez-Hernández, [2] Ramos-Cruz, and [3] Díaz-Rivera solicited another person(s) and financed the plan to murder Lieutenant Albarati. Defendants [4] Quiñones-Meléndez and [5] Mojica-Rodríguez provided a vehicle, four Glock .40 fully automatic pistols, and a cellular phone, to defendants [6] Rodríguez-González, [7] Rosado-Rosado, and [8] Rosario de León to murder Lieutenant Albarati. Defendant [9] Velázquez-Vázquez served as driver to [5] Mojica-Rodríguez and participated in the plan to murder the victim.
“Throughout his law enforcement career, Lieutenant Albarati’s service was exemplary, selfless and courageous,” said United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. “With this indictment, we take a giant first step towards our goal of holding those who carried out this reprehensible and senseless murder accountable for their actions. The Department of Justice will continue to honor Lieutenant Albarati’s legacy as a public servant, his dedication to safeguard the community, and his integrity.”
“In February 2013, Lieutenant Osvaldo Albarati’s life was spontaneously and brutally robbed from him, his family and friends, his partners, and the good people across the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It is my sincerest hope that, while it took some time, the tireless and selfless effort of the men and women who worked to solve this case brings justice and closure to Albarati’s family,” said Carlos Cases, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI. “The FBI has always been and will continue to be relentless in the pursuit of justice.”
The murder of government employees and officials is a crime punishable by death or imprisonment for any term of years or for life. Murder for hire is a crime punishable by death or imprisonment for any terms of years or for life. Possession of a firearm in furtherance of an attempted crime of violence is a crime punishable by a minimum penalty of ten (10) years and a maximum penalty of death or imprisonment for any term of years or for life.
The case was investigated by the FBI with the collaboration of the US Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, Miami Field Office, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, DEA, ATF, the United States Marshals Service, ICE-HSI, the Puerto Rico Police Department, the San Juan Municipal Police, and other law enforcement agencies that covered hundreds of leads developed as a result of the investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julia Díaz-Rex and Trial Attorney from the Capital Crimes Unit Julie Mosley.
Criminal indictments are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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