The accolade, which in the past has been awarded to notable companies such as SpaceX, Warner Media and Microsoft, is specifically for the success of the destination marketing organizations Live Boricua campaign in promoting Puerto Rican culture as a unique selling point of the island. Ten Steps to Doing Business with the USMS. WKAQ-TV (channel 2) is a television station in San Juan, Puerto Rico, serving as the U.S. territory's dual Telemundo and NBC outlet. Information developed by New York investigators indicated Carmona Serrano was residing in Puerto Rico, acting as a leader of a drug trafficking organization operating out of several public housing projects in the San Juan metro area. An official website of the United States government. 2021, San Juan, Puerto Rico The Distrito entertainment complex opened in August 2021 as a . We wanted our promotion to go beyond the sand and beaches and for visitors to have an authentic cultural experience that would inspire them to explore the whole island, our food, our cocktails, our music, and our dancing. Contact USA.gov, usmarshals.gov is an official site of the U.S. Federal Government, U.S. Department of Justice. Ten Steps to Doing Business with the USMS. "I don't have a problem with people trying to have a good time, but they have to be respectful. San Juan, PR The U.S. Marshals-led Puerto Rico Violent Within its first six months, the campaign reached 36 million households, resulting in an increase in travelers' familiarity and positive perception of Puerto Rico, leading to record visitation numbers, lodging income, tax revenue and jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector in 2022. Please try again. An official website of the United States government. Violent Crimes - Murders. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty. 2021, after a year-long investigation the PRVOTF located the residence That's more than 2.3 million people . Tour San Juan for shopping and sightseeing alongside colorful buildings and cobblestone streets. Then, in 2020, came a deadly earthquake. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure youre on a federal government site. Up to 8,041 crimes classified as illegal appropriations were recorded in the . It should be noted that Jeffrey Lopez-Alameda was so good at concealing his identity that his neighbors and fiancee were unaware of his real name, the U.S. Hike the massive El Yunque rainforest to explore waterfalls and wildlife. Combating cross-border criminal activity is a critical component of the overall safety, security and well-being of our nation. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. For Democrats, the idea has obvious appeal: Democrats can support congressional representation for long-underserved populations and boost their own electoral odds at the same time. Here's the list of the FBI's top 15 most wanted in Illinois for 2021, . Other videos show disorderly tourists getting into fights, dancing on top of moving vehicles, and destroying private property around Puerto Ricos metropolitan area, including well-known tourist spots. San Juan, PR U.S. With two new bills in Congress that seek to resolve Puerto Ricos status in very different ways, the debate is likely about to heat up, and it may break down along some unusual ideological lines. Along with our main office in San Juan, we have five satellite offices, known as resident agencies, in the area. History of the FBI's San Juan, Puerto Rico Field Office. Puerto Rico is a large Caribbean island of roughly 3,500 square miles located in the West Indies. Puerto Rico authorities after he shot at a police officer during a. traffic stop. He may also be facing some pressure from Puerto Rican voters in New York, where support for statehood tends to be lower than it is in Floridathe other major center of the Puerto Rican population on the mainland. Puerto Rico Language Print 2019 population 3.5M 2019 fertility rate 1.1 2019 educational attainment (years) 12.5 How is the population forecasted to change? Contact USA.gov, usmarshals.gov is an official site of the U.S. Federal Government, U.S. Department of Justice. As Puerto Rico continues to reopen and welcome more tourists, experts and residents worry that travelers unwillingness to follow Covid-19 protocols could reverse some of the progress theyve made so far. 2008-2023 - Shore News Media & Marketing Ltd. Co. All rights reserved. On March 22, 2021 Puerto Rico Violent Offenders Task Force and Puerto Rico Police Bureau agents located the residence of Sierra Jimenez in the Jardines de Selle public housing project, where he was placed under arrest without incident. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty. In 2020, on the same day as the U.S. presidential election, Puerto Rico held a statehood referendum. News is my Business was born in November 2010 out of a desire to provide no-nonsense, straightforward, English-language news relevant to Puerto Ricos business community, in an all-digital format. If passed, the bill, modeled on the admission process for Hawaii and Alaska, would trigger one last in/out referendum in Puerto Rico, whichif it passedwould create the 51st state. The population is just over 3-million people, with an additional 4-million tourists . Despite growing public support for Puerto Rican statehood, the bills chances seem slim. Nearly 130 residents in Old San Juan met Thursday and urged officials to take action to control the behavior of tourists and visitors who refuse to comply with Covid-19 protocols. Until the federal government takes its regulatory role seriously and uses the big stick that it has, corporations will attempt to self-regulate Why CT waits for $95 million from OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, HUSKY Health is helping immigrants. En la @CTPuertoRico estamos comprometidos con continuar apoyando los esfuerzos que llevan acabo las agencias de ley y orden, el aeropuerto y el sector privado de velar por el cumplimiento de medidas de seguridad y protocolos del COVID-19. to make our streets and communities safer.. The .gov means its official. Vacationers will have many interesting places to visit and fun things to do from relaxing on uncrowded beaches, hiking a tropical forest, kayaking in bioluminescent bays, and visiting UNESCO historic sites to thrilling activities. Marshal shotand killed suspect during warrant execution in D.C. CT proposal causes confusion, concern. WASAJU: Stunning views and amazing guide! Being just a two-hour flight from Miami, it's easy to get to. Puerto Rico Municipios Population Totals Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Puerto Rico Municipios: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021 (PRM-EST2021-POP) [< 1.0 MB] Annual and Cumulative Estimates of Resident Population Change for Municipios in Puerto Rico and Municipio Rankings: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021 (PRM-EST2021-CHG) [< 1.0 MB] If you look at the actual data, Puerto Rico is genuinely a swing state, says Laws Garca. The indictment alleges that from in or about the year 2017, to the date of the return of the indictment, the drug trafficking organization distributed cocaine base (commonly known as crack), heroin, cocaine, and marihuana, within 1,000 feet of the Manuel Hernndez Rosa, commonly known as Candelaria, Rafael Hernndez, also known as Kennedy, and El Carmen Public Housing Projects, and other areas in the municipality of Mayagez, all for financial gain and profit. Tara O'Neill was formerly a breaking news reporter with Hearst Connecticut Media Group. A large amount of U.S. currency Carmona Serrano was subsequently featured as one of the "Top 10" most wanted in the District of Puerto Rico. During the meeting, residents said they witnessed instances in which the police "did not say anything" to misbehaving tourists or saw tourists continue to ignore Covid-19 protocols after police confronted them. Its main rival, the Popular Democratic Party, or PPD, advocates continuing as a commonwealth with enhanced self-governance. Unemployment remains high in Puerto Rico. One of the major damages that colonialism does to you is the fear of making final decisions, says journalist and historian Pedro Reina-Prez. Marshals Arrest Top 10 Most Wanted in Puerto Rico Report Waste, Fraud, Abuse or Misconduct to the Inspector General, Defendants are facing a forfeiture allegation of five million dollars, USAO Monitor Selection for Corporate Criminal Enforcement. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. The US wanted Puerto Rico specifically to build a strong naval military presence in the Caribbean (which continues to this day), and to ease access to the then in-progress Panama Canal (which would be completed in 1914). Published by Teresa Romero , Jun 22, 2022. This is the first part of a series where youll get an inside look at USERTfrom their rigorous training to tools of the trade. San Juan, PR The U.S. Marshals-led Puerto Rico Violent Offenders Task Force arrested a suspected leader of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) wanted in the Southern District of New York. Carmona Serrano was subsequently featured as one of the Marshal Wilmer Ocasio-Ibarra. Additional information about the U.S. This indictment and the arrests this morning demonstrate our continued resolve to combat drug trafficking, said W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. Discover Puerto Ricos chief executive officer, Brad Dean, expressed his gratitude for the recognition and emphasized the organizations desire to showcase the islands unique culture to visitors. Not again.". Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. The Marshals will . Thats not quite how it turned out in the long run. Puerto Rico. Some co-conspirators would routinely possess, carry, brandish, and use firearms to protect themselves and their drug trafficking organization. What is clear, both from the anti-Rosell movement and from the strong performance of third parties in the 2020 election, is that it has led to widespread frustration at the status quo. Some haulers caught, Arming guidance counselors? Congress is unlikely to act without a clear and unambiguous signal from the island, but such a signal is unlikely unless Puerto Ricans see clear and unambiguous support from Congress. Puerto Ricans in the U.S. territory have avoided overwhelming their already fragile health care system during the pandemic so far, mainly because of extraordinary measures the local government put in place early on and peoples willingness to comply with them. Published December 12, 2021. . Marshals Service can be found at https://www.usmarshals.gov. Officials said he was wanted in connection with a 2019 homicide in Puerto Rico. Think Youre Smarter Than a What Next Producer? There are McConnells full-bore socialists in Puerto Rico, but they tend to favor greater autonomy, as either a commonwealth or an independent country, rather than statehood. Some who support free association. Mr. Vasquez-Rodriguez faces charges of shooting the security guard in a San Juan nightclub. In 1989, President George H.W. Marshals from the Violent Fugitive Task Force and Hartford police arrested Jeffrey Lopez-Alameda Thursday morning in the 200 block of Hillside Avenue. The 29-year-old, a nurse and mother of three girls, just wanted to be safe. Investigators said Lopez-Alameda fled Puerto Rico after the April 2019 homicide, obtained a stolen social security card and assumed the identity of Radames Negron Gonzalez.. We encountered an issue signing you up. . The defendants had access to different vehicles to transport money, narcotics, and firearms. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), PGA Tours 15th Puerto Rico Open kicks off, Iberia to promote Puerto Rico, add flights to route, Sounds like Puerto Rico series nominated for 5 Emmy Awards, Op-Ed: Under Deans inspiring leadership, DMO guides islands tourism boom. ABIOLA AYORINDE KAYODE. [+] game-changer for the island's nightlife, events and marketing, Discover Puerto Rico. We aim to create a special connection that will lead them to return to our destination.. Arrest of Victor J. Pizarro-Santiago, 02.23.2023 DEA and our federal, state and local partners have not let our guard down. pic.twitter.com/FwPuP9Rjvr, At the same time, Puerto Rico's governor said Thursday he sees the anticipated rise in tourism as something positive. In 48 hours, they received $10,000. Part of the argument for admitting Hawaii at the same time was that it was more Republican-leaning and would balance things out. Bush gave the statehood movement its biggest presidential boost to date by affirming his support in the State of the Union address. An AK-47, Glock pistol, narcotics and a large amount of U.S. currency was also found in the residence. On March 22, 2021 Puerto Rico Violent Offenders Task Force and Puerto Rico Police Bureau agents located the residence of Sierra Jimenez in the Jardines de Selle public housing project, where he was placed under arrest without incident. Police seeking suspect wanted for multiple North Philadelphia bar robberies, targeting liquor, Additional information about the U.S. of Carmona Serrano in the town of Trujillo Alto, where he was placed The smaller Independence Party advocates for a complete break from the U.S. (A newly formed left-wing party, the Citizens Victory Movement, aims to distinguish itself by intentionally downplaying the statehood question.). Covers Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Puerto Rico Tourism Company announced this week that it launched an English-language educational campaign to alert tourists of the island's Covid-19 restrictions and the consequences of not following the rules. 130 residents in Old San Juan met Thursday, Police Commissioner Antonio Lpez Figueroa said, Merchants Association of La Placita de Santurce said. You can report suspicious activities and crime by contacting your local FBI office 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Cyber's Most Wanted. An official website of the United States government. Who am I to tell any of my family whats right for them? she says. That frustration, however, does not necessarily mean an end to the stalemate over Puerto Ricos status. Slate is published by The Slate Group, a Graham Holdings Company. President Joe Biden has been vague but certainly does not seem opposed to the idea. Adaily email update of the stories you need to read right now. The Live Boricua campaign has conveyed some of the islands culture to potential visitors worldwide, resulting in an economic boost for the islands visitor economy. Subscribe Housing units, July 1, 2021, (V2021) X: Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2017-2021: 68.0%: Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2017-2021: $111,800: The lawsuit alleged that Moran frequently made comments about Kraft's appearance, requested hugs and asked Kraft to accompany him on a trip to Puerto Rico while his wife remained in Reading. Her death was the first femicide of 2021 in Puerto Rico, where violence against women is a longstanding problem. Then in 2017 came Hurricane Maria, whose initial devastation was followed by indifference and neglect from the mainland, leading to prolonged suffering and mass death. The site is secure. The currently dominant New Progressive Party, or PNP, favors statehood. It is owned and operated by the Telemundo Station Group subsidiary of NBCUniversal.WKAQ-TV's studios are located on Franklin Roosevelt Avenue in San Juan near Hiram Bithorn Stadium, and its transmitter is located on Cerro la Santa in Cayey near the Bosque Estatal . Puerto Rican police vowed to increase their presence in tourist areas such as Condado, Old San Juan, Santurce and Isla Verde to ensure tourists follow the curfew. While police increase their presence, local business owners in Santurce said in a statement they are worried that the issues around tourist behavior and the ensuing crackdown will impact their businesses. QuickFacts provides statistics for all states and counties, and for cities and towns with a population of 5,000 or more. Carmona Serrano was charged June 3, 2020, with attempted murder by The 30 co-conspirators acted in different roles in order to further the goals of their organization, to wit: four suppliers and 26 sellers. He also notes that in Alaska and Hawaii, support for statehood increased dramatically after Congress officially put statehood on the table, making it a viable and realistic option. Two Individuals and a Healthcare Management Company Indicted for Bankruptcy Fraud, Money Laundering, PPP Fraud, and Bank Fraud, 02.23.2023 Report Waste, Fraud, Abuse or Misconduct to the Inspector General, USAO Monitor Selection for Corporate Criminal Enforcement. But to Velzquez, the main point is that Congress should not be privileging one status option over another when its still a live debate on the island. It was the sixth time a vote on the islands status had been held, but this one differed from its predecessors by only including two optionsyes to statehood, or no. (Hes not as open-minded about D.C.). Nine defendants are facing one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. That particular talking point is trite and cynical and kind of ironic. Theres a sister or two who support statehood. During the debate over statehood for Alaska in the 1950s, the assumption was that the state would be Democratic, and indeed its first two elected senators were Democrats. We're still living in the middle of a pandemic, and people can't come here and act as if the virus doesn't exist. Marshals Service can be found Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, no passport is required for travel to US Citizens. Most Wanted Fugitives Chuen Yip Wanted for the following alleged federal violations: Title 21 USC 846 Yulan Andony Archaga Carias Wanted for the following alleged federal violations: Cocaine importation; racketeering conspiracy; possession and conspiracy to possess machine guns Ismael Zambada Garcia They provided no additional information about the homicide. under arrest without incident. "We are doing people-powered journalism. All Rights Reserved. But when it comes to Covid-19, the two places have little in common. In most municipios it has remained at or below 10 percent, but in many interior mountain areas it is a whopping 10-20 percent. Why Ketanji Brown Jackson Split With the Courts Liberals in a 54 Decision. You can also submit a tip electronically at tips.fbi.gov. U.S. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Additional information about the U.S. Americas First Federal Law Enforcement Agency, Have a question about government services? traffic stop. The islands government was mired in a grinding debt crisisthe result, in large part, of federal economic policieswhich the Obama administration responded to in 2016 by setting up an oversight board to manage Puerto Ricos finances; the board is widely despised on the island as an unelected colonial imposition. Marshals Office of Public Affairs (703) 740-1699. Marshals from the violent fugitive task forces in Connecticut and Puerto Rico to apprehend Lopez-Alameda without incident in Hartford. As part of the conspiracy, the members of the drug trafficking gang established drug points that would move within different areas inside the public housing projects in order to avoid police detection; and operated during the day and night, at times operated 24 hours a day. Question settled? This is Abraham Angulo Wanted for the following alleged federal violations: The following alleged Federal Drug Violations:Conspiracy to Possess With Intent to Distribute Cocaine; Conspiracy to distribute Cocaine; Continuing Criminal Enterprise; Conspiracy to launder Monetary Instruments; Laundering of Monetary Instruments. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. On March 2, Rep. Darren Soto, a Democrat from Florida, and Jenniffer Gonzlez, Puerto Ricos nonvoting congressional representative and a PNP member who caucuses with the Republicans, introduced a statehood bill with 49 co-sponsors. 2021 News is My Business. During the last election cycle, thenSenate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell described adding the two new states as an example of full-bore socialism. Arizona Senate candidate Martha McSally warned that if the new states were added, Republicans might never get the Senate back.. U.S. Since the start of the pandemic, at least 1,079 have been arrested for violating Covid-19 restrictions put in place by executive orders, Lpez Figueroa said last week, adding that Puerto Rican police have received at least 3,689 complaints over Covid-19 violations. Get FBI email alerts A lock () or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. indicated Carmona Serrano was residing in Puerto Rico, acting as a An AK-47, Glock pistol, narcotics and a large amount of U.S. currency was also found in the residence. If you have information about the whereabouts of these fugitives, immediately contact your local U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office or call the national hotline at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE as soon as possible. Find Out With This Weeks News Quiz. Additional Violent Crimes. . Marshals Arrest Top 10 Most Wanted in Puerto Rico | U.S. According to PRTC, the growth in Puerto Rico tourism seen in 2021 has been bolstered by a 24% increase in lodgings, with 4,306 registered on the island as of late-September 2021, compared to 3,471 registered in 2020. Statehood won by 52.5 percent to 47.5 percent. Whether Puerto Rico actually wants to be a state is still an open question. (This was at least an improvement over the 2017 referendum, which was boycotted by the opposition and only got 23 percent turnout.) Thats exactly what statehood advocates are trying to do now. While the islands parties dont map evenly onto U.S. partisan dividesthe PNP includes both Republicans like Gonzlez and Democrats like Pierluisistatehood is generally speaking the conservative position in Puerto Rico. She reports, writes and produces stories for NBC Latino and NBCNews.com. Puerto Rico is a large island located in the Caribbean. And as far as beaches go, it doesn't get better than the sands of Isla de Viequesparticularly Mosquito Bay, where at night, the water glows blue-green thanks to . According to the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB), the main suspect was Juan Sierra Jimenez. The statehood movement faces resistance from two sides: partisan Republicans and statehood skeptics within the Puerto Rican and Puerto Rican American community. HUNG TIEN PHAM. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico On March 10, 2021, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging 30 violent gang members with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and aiding and abetting in the possession/distribution of controlled substances, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The defendants indicted are: Norbert A. Molina-Avils, a/k/a Alex Fogn, Emilio Rivera-Rodrguez, a/k/a Gafas/Chino, Josu M. Justiniano-Mndez, a/k/a Molle, Alexander Justiniano-Pagn, a/k/a Alex Tota, Israel Rivera-Acosta, a/k/a Yiyo/Guillo, Christian Joel Soto-Caldern, a/k/a Salsilla, Walberto Rivera-Vigo, a/k/a Wally El Pelotero, Jos L. Malav-Gonzlez, a/k/a Lichi Motora. Numerous left-leaning analysts, looking at the long-term disadvantages Democrats face in the House and even more so the Senate, where sparsely populated, rural, red areas are overrepresented, have concluded that it is imperative that the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, presumably blue, be added as states as soon as possible. All rights reserved. Episode 5: What's it like to be a special agent with HSI? Most Wanted Captured Abreu, Cesar Leonidas Controlled Substance Possession Agzamov, Sandjar Harboring Aliens; RICO Antunez-Sotelo, Mario Human Trafficking Archaga Caras, Yulan An Firearm Possession; Gang Membership; Narcotics Captured Ayala-Martinez, Robin Al Removal Bocanegra-Lupian, Julian Immigration Violations De La Trinidad Ramirez C Working in conjunction with investigators For her part, the DMOs chief marketing officer, Leah Chandler, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of the traveler experience. First Federal Law Enforcement Agency. Marshal Wilmer Ocasio-Ibarra announces the arrest of Juan Sierra Jimenez, a dangerous fugitive and main suspect of a shooting that left five people dead. Not quite. Opinion has been divided between those who wanted to retain the existing arrangements for governing locally - known as . As part of the conspiracy, the members of the drug trafficking gang established drug points that moved within different areas inside the public housing project to avoid police detection. Sierra Jimenez was on supervised release at the time of the incident. With much of the worlds travel limited, Puerto Rico is becoming a popular destination for mainland Americans. Get information about how to check in with your local ICE Office here. The .gov means its official. Even Florida Sen. Rick Scott, long on record backing statehood, has been backing away from that stance, saying the territorys debt issues should be resolved first. Puerto Rico was one of the first U.S. jurisdictions to issue a mask mandate and currently has the longest pandemic-related curfew compared to any state. It does seem likely that Puerto Rico would be a mostly blue state for the time being. But Puerto Rico has not seen an uptick in cases since December, reporting its lowest positivity rate in February (5.2 percent) since Covid-19 deaths rose around Thanksgiving. Democrats face a structural problem in national politics: A good-sized majority of American voters support the party, but that currently translates into a tenuous hold on government. Statehood advocates like Laws Garca dismiss this proposal as unnecessarily convoluted and argue that Puerto Rican voters have already had their say via their elected representatives. If we deny the capacity of the people of Puerto Rico to move forward in the process, what you have is a minority imposing a continued territory that everyone on the island recognizes as dysfunctional and undemocratic, he says. In 2019 came a protest movement leading to the resignation of Gov. Crimes Against Children. Democratic voters dont need convincing: 76 percent of them now support Puerto Rico statehood, according to a recent Data for Progress poll, a 7 percentage point increase since last year. U.S. Its Extremely Revealing. On May 31, 2019, authorities in Puerto Rico issued an . While the bill is portrayed by opponents as an attempt to block statehood, Velzquez says she is not campaigning for any of the status options. The defendants acted in different roles to further the goals of the conspiracy, to wit leaders, enforcers, runners, sellers, and facilitators.
