Nine Charged as Hitmen in 2013 Puerto Rico Murder of US Correctional Officer

Nine people in Puerto Rico have been charged in killing a United States correctional officer in a drive-by shooting in 2013, according to The Associated Press.

The U.S. Justice Department said Friday Lt. Osvaldo Albarati-Casanas was killed in February 2013 while on his way home in a murder-for-hire plot. Suspects targeted him for his ongoing investigation into contraband smuggling at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo. Three suspects were charged with hiring hit men to shoot him.

U.S. attorney Emilia Rodriguez-Velez for the District of Puerto Rico announced Wednesday a grand jury charged the men responsible for Albarati's murder, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation website.

Nine people were charged for the death of Albarati: Oscar "Cali" Martínez-Hernández, Ángel "Api" D. Ramos-Cruz, Miguel "Bolo" Díaz-Rivera, Juan "El Manco" Quiñones-Meléndez, Orlando "Yogui" Mojica-Rodríguez, Jayson "Gonzo" Rodríguez-González, Carlos "Cano" Rosado-Rosado, Alexander "Coqui" Rosario de León and Jancarlos "Jan" Velázquez-Vázquez.

All nine defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit murder and other charges related to financing Albarati-Casanas' death and possessing the firearms used in the murder.

"Throughout his law enforcement career, Lieutenant Albarati's service was both selfless and courageous," U.S. Attorney Rodríguez-Vélez said. "With this action, we continue our work to hold accountable those who carried out this reprehensible and senseless act. And in all that we do, the Department of Justice will continue to honor Lieutenant Albarati's sacrifice, to safeguard the community he served, and to protect the values and principles he defended all his life."

The murder of government employees is a crime punishable by death or imprisonment for life or any amount of years.

The FBI and the Puerto Rico Police Department collaborated in investigating the case.

Albarati-Casanas worked for the Federal Bureau of Prisons for a little over a decade and was previously a Puerto Rico police officer. He is survived by his wife and three children.