ICE, ATF arrest 4 Puerto Rican men for stealing firearms from PRPD

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Four Puerto Rican men who allegedly stole 125 firearms from the Puerto Rico Police Department’s (PRPD) shooting range were arrested Friday in San Juan. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF) conducted the investigation that spurred the arrests.

According to the 5-count indictment, Jose Padilla-Galarza, 40, Gilberto Ramos-Quiñonez, 44, Ramón Santiago-Ortega, 66, and Guill Reabing-Padilla, 44, conspired to commit a robbery that took place Oct. 16, 2015, at the PRPD shooting range in Isla de Cabra, Cataño. The defendants subdued the duty police officer and stole the PRPD’s firearms stored in the vault to subsequently illegally sell them for significant pecuniary gain and profit.

The indictment further alleges that the defendants used to visit the Isla de Cabra Shooting Range to become familiar with its personnel, their shifts and the layout of the facility. The defendants used a white Ford Crown Victoria or Mercury Grand Marquis attached with decals of the PRPD to create the appearance of an official patrol car. Members of the conspiracy dressed as PRPD police officers, some in regular police uniforms and others in tactical uniforms.

The 125 firearms stolen are: 40 AR-15 rifles, 24 shotguns, nine 9mm carbines, one M3 rifle and 51 pistols. This is the biggest firearms robbery in the history of Puerto Rico.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Max Perez-Bouret.

If found guilty, the defendants face a minimum of seven years up to life in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.