By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-11 22:11:54 | Updated at 2024-12-22 18:42:18
1 week ago
An up-and-coming rapper faces the death penalty after being charged with murdering a police officer as part a sprawling drug-dealing gang in Puerto Rico, authorities said.
CDobleta, real name Luis Sánchez, is among five people facing murder charges for the fatal shooting of Eliezer Ramos, 35, at the Sabana Abajo housing complex outside the city of San Juan on March 29.
The FBI, the U.S. Attorney General's Office and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau obtained 56 arrest warrants for those linked to the gang before agents carried out a massive sweep in the early hours Wednesday.
At least 40 members of the gang La Familia, which operates out of the Sabana Abajo complex, were taken into custody Wednesday, an FBI spokesperson told DailyMail.com.
Authorities said 16 other suspects were still on the run.
All 56 defendants face drug-trafficking charges. At least 37 are accused of violating the U.S. Weapons Act.
Eight of the suspects are accused of using firearms that were altered to fire automatically.
Sánchez, who turned himself in to the police in April, was officially indicted last week on murder and multiple drug and weapons charges.
He boasts more than a million followers across Instagram and YouTube and more than 1.5 million listeners on Spotify.
CDobleta, real name Luis Sánchez, is among five people facing murder charges for the fatal shooting of Eliezer Ramos, 35, at the Sabana Abajo housing complex outside the city of San Juan on March 29
Puerto Rico police officer Eliezer Ramos was killed at the Sabana Abajo housing complex near San Juan on March 29. The 35-year-old had just finished his shift and was driving home when he spotted the riders of three motorcycles and an ATV firing their weapons in the air and followed them
The others facing murder charges were identified as Víctor Pérez, Andyel González, Olvin Concepción and Daniel J. López.
On March 29, Officer Ramos had just finished his shift and was driving home when he spotted three motorcycles and one off-road vehicle, whose riders were firing shots in the air as other vehicles passed by.
The officer, a father of a nine-year-old boy, called for backup and followed the group to the housing complex, where he was shot and had his service gun stolen.
Sánchez had previously told agents he was with the motorcycle and ATV riders, according to court documents.
'That same night, the slain officer radioed that individuals within the motorcycle group were shooting at cars,' court records showed.
'[Sánchez] told HSI agents that he heard gunshots while riding and gestured to his fellow passengers in reference to the shooting.'
The arrests were made possible after a federal grand jury issued an indictment following months of investigative work by local authorities.
'Thank you God for allowing us to do justice today to Sergeant Eliezer Ramos Vélez,' Puerto Rico Police Bureau commissioner Antonio López told reporters.
CDobleta boasts more than a million followers across Instagram and YouTube
Fernando Torres, who is assigned to the highway police, was arrested in Puerto Rico on Wednesday after the FBI and local law enforcement obtained 56 arrest warrants. Torres allegedly provided information to associates of the La Familia, a gang that has been linked to the murder of fellow cop Eliezer Ramos
Puerto Rico police officer Eliezer Ramos was the father of a nine-year-old boy
'Eliezer went beyond the call of duty, his dedication cost him the most precious thing we all have, life. Today we can say that Eliezer's death was not in vain nor did it go unpunished.'
Highway Police agent Fernando Torres, 47, was among the 40 suspects who were arrested.
López revealed that Torres allegedly supplied information to La Familia.
'This individual … represents a high betrayal of the principles to which a police officer swears and of the uniform that we all proudly and gallantly defend. Because of his actions, he will now have to wear another uniform, that of a prisoner,' López said.
