Convictions through Guilty Pleas and Sentencings in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Prosecutions (July 20 through July 23, 2026)

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting United States Attorney, in conjunction with our partner agencies in the Homeland Security Task Force (“HSTF”) announce the following prosecutorial results for the week of July 20 through July 23, 2026. The HSTF is a permanent, interagency law enforcement task force created by executive order to combat transnational criminal organizations—including cartels, trafficking networks, and foreign terrorist organizations. Convictions through Guilty Pleas: On July 21, 2026, Sergio Ramírez-Payano pleaded guilty to possessing a machinegun in Criminal Case 25-409 (GMM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with possessing with intent to distribute more than five (5) kilograms of cocaine, possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, possessing a machinegun in furtherance of drug trafficking, the possession of a firearm by a felon, and possessing a machinegun. Defendant was arrested on October 1, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 20, 2026. AUSA Joseph Russell is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 22, 2026, Juan José De la Cruz Natera pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 21, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 22, 2026, Yanzie Vázquez González pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 22, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 22, 2026, Pedro J. Santiago Rodríguez pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 22, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 23, 2026, Michael Félix Sánchez Ogando pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 22, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 23, 2026, Luis Manuel Olivo Morán pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 22, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. Sentencings: On July 22, 2026, Joseph David Vázquez Ayala was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Silvia Carreño Coll to a term of imprisonment of 78 months and 8 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on July 11, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-272 (SCC) and pleaded guilty on April 22, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 22, 2026, Omar Jhon Paredes was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Aida Delgado Colón to 37 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release for conspiracy to import cocaine in excess of 150 kilograms of cocaine and a concurrent term of six months imprisonment for improper entry by alien. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on May 8, 2025, in Criminal case 25-226 (ADC), and pled guilty to the charge(s) on March 12, 2026. AUSA Luis A. Valentín is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 23, 2026, Denis Ditrán was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Raúl Arias-Marxuach to time served with immediate deportation to the Dominican Republic and 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit wire, mail, and bank fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349. According to court documents, this defendant was indicted on June 12, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-275(RAM), and pleaded guilty on June 25, 2026. SAUSA Vanessa Bonano is in charge of the prosecution of the case. These prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard – Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department. ###