Former Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Stealing 54 Guns and Thousands of Rounds of Ammunition from Puerto Rico Police Bureau

Strategic Insights -

On July 17, 2019, former police officer William Cintrón-Rivera, also known as "El Kid/Kid," stole 54 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition from the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB) headquarters in Guayama. At the time of the theft, Cintrón-Rivera was a police officer in the PRPB. He was subsequently charged with multiple counts of firearms violations and tampering with witnesses in a federal grand jury indictment on January 20, 2021. The investigation revealed that Cintrón-Rivera attempted to intimidate and corruptly persuade individuals to provide false information to federal investigators. On August 2, 2023, Cintrón-Rivera is scheduled to be sentenced in federal district court.

Key Takeaways:

  • Former police officer William Cintrón-Rivera pleaded guilty to stealing 54 guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition from the Puerto Rico Police Bureau headquarters on July 17, 2019.
  • The theft occurred while Cintrón-Rivera was still an active police officer in the PRPB.
  • The defendant was charged with multiple counts of firearms violations and tampering with witnesses in a federal grand jury indictment on January 20, 2021.
  • The investigation revealed that Cintrón-Rivera attempted to intimidate and corruptly persuade individuals to provide false information to federal investigators.
  • The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau.
  • Assistant U.S. Attorney Luis A. Valentin and Jonathan L. Gottfried, Chief of the Violent Crimes and National Security Section, are in charge of the prosecution of the case.

Statistics:

  • 54 firearms were stolen from the Puerto Rico Police Bureau headquarters on July 17, 2019.
  • Thousands of rounds of ammunition were also stolen during the same incident.
  • The defendant, William Cintrón-Rivera, was charged with multiple counts of firearms violations and tampering with witnesses in a federal grand jury indictment on January 20, 2021.
  • The investigation into the theft is being led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau.

Sources:

  • United States Attorneys General: Jan 20, 2021: Statement Regarding Indictment of Former Puerto Rico Police Officer for Firearms Violations and Witness Tampering.
  • MIL Security OSI: http://milnz.co.nz/mil-osi-aggregation/ - Copyright 2023 Multimedia Investments Ltd, distributed by Contify.com.