A federal status hearing was held September 3 in the case against Jensen Medina Cardona and numerous co-defendants, addressing evidence discovery, possible plea agreements, and a defense request to inspect correctional facilities. Court minutes state federal prosecutors told the court they are working closely with the investigating agency to produce some evidence discovery requests received from defense attorneys.
The government alleges the co-defendants are members of a prison gang known as Grupo 31, accused of conspiring to possess and distribute drugs at four correctional complexes: Guerrero in Aguadilla, Las Cucharas in Ponce, Bayamón 501, and Guayama 1000. The defense rejected the accusation.
Named co-defendants include Juan Carlos Ortiz Vázquez, Elías Martínez Rivera, José Luis Audain Rodríguez, Moisés Mojica Torres, Ernesto Malavé Santiago, Jim Almodóvar Quirindongo, Ernesto Vargas Rodríguez, Eddiber Pérez Burgos, Abraham Rodríguez Cruz, Alexander Alvarado Alméstica, Edwin Sánchez Ríos, Félix Serrano Román, James Santana González, Julio Vargas Jiménez, Kevin Hernández Ruiz, Miguel González Concepción, Aníbal Ramírez Alicea, Christian Candelario Feliciano, and Wesley Correa López. District Judge Silvia Carreño Coll suspended the joint motion for facility inspections and denied a sealed ex parte motion whose contents remain unknown, giving the defense ten days to file a written response.