U.S. District Judge María Antongiorgi Jordán handed down sentences to three men linked to the criminal organization "La Familia," which operated from the Sabana Abajo public housing project in Carolina, Puerto Rico, all for conspiracy to possess controlled substances with intent to distribute. Paul W.
Herrera Rivera, a former FBI fugitive wanted for drug trafficking, was sentenced September 10 to 12 years in prison and 8 years of supervised release; he was indicted December 5, 2024, pled guilty May 27, 2026, and was arrested by police on Calle José "Chemo" Soto Rivera in Canóvanas. Federal prosecutors said members of the organization participated in the March 29, 2024 killing of Sgt. Eliezer Ramos Vélez.
Wilfredo Hernández Vizcarrondo received 5 years plus 8 years supervised release on September 9; he was arrested August 30, 2023 during a raid at Sabana Abajo where police seized 270 heroin bags, 155 cocaine bags, 117 marijuana bags, 75 crack capsules, 50 pink pills, $1,122 cash, two scanner radios, and two cellphones. Michael J. García Márquez, wounded in an April 13, 2023 shootout with Carolina's CIC agents, was sentenced September 10 to 15 years plus 10 years supervised release; he had been with reguetonero/influencer Michael Yadill Flores Encarnación ('Michael Flores') at the time.