Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Former Police Officer Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for Theft of Firearms From Police Weapons Vault and Tampering With Multiple Witnesses
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Former police officer William Cintrón-Rivera, aka “El Kid/Kid” was sentenced to eight years in prison for the theft of 54 guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition from the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB), Guayama headquarters, on July 17, 2019. The defendant was ordered to forfeit his position as a PRPB officer and pay $48,624 in restitution to the PRPB.
On January 20, 2021, a federal grand jury charged the defendant with multiple counts of firearms violations and tampering with three witnesses, and he pleaded guilty in April 2023.
According to court documents, on July 17, 2019, in the District of Puerto Rico, Cintrón-Rivera stole 54 firearms from the PRPB, Guayama headquarters. At the time of the theft, Cintrón-Rivera was a police officer in the PRPB. In addition, he was charged with possession of six of the stolen firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
The investigation revealed that Cintrón-Rivera attempted to intimidate and corruptly persuade two individuals to provide false information to federal investigators relevant to the theft, such as Cintrón-Rivera’s whereabouts on the night of the crime. Cintrón-Rivera also attempted to intimidate and corruptly persuade a woman to provide false information to federal investigators regarding the nature and duration of their relationship, Cintrón-Rivera’s whereabouts during the timeframe of the theft, the identity of an alleged informant and communications involving Cintrón-Rivera and her, including payment for an alleged cell phone.
Anyone with any information regarding any of the missing PRPB firearms is encouraged to contact the ATF at 1-800-ATF-GUNS.
U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico and Christopher Robinson, Special Agent in Charge for ATF, made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Luis A. Valentin was in charge of the prosecution of the case.
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