Man Indicted for Firearms Trafficking
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On February 27, 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Yadiel José Mangual (a resident of Florida with family ties to Puerto Rico) for mailing firearms from Florida to Puerto Rico illegally, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The investigation was a joint effort between the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Mangual is facing five counts including Conspiracy to Deliver firearms and Ammunition to a Common Carrier without Notification (18 U.S.C. §§ 371 and 922(e)), Delivery of Firearms to a Common Carrier without Written Notification (18 U.S.C. § 922(e)), and violating 18 U.S.C § 1715 which declares firearms as nonmailable.
As part of a coordinated operation, USPIS along with ATF identified package containing firearms sent through the mail from Florida to Puerto Rico. A federal search warrant was obtained for the subject package, which was wrapped in decorative gift-wrapping with the word “baby” written across the wrapping in various colors. Inside the package, federal agents found one Glock pistol, one AR type pistol, three .40 caliber magazines, rounds of .40 caliber ammunition and .223 caliber ammunition, and one (1) dual 5.56 caliber drum magazine. The investigation revealed that Yadiel José Mangual, and other unknown individuals, conspired to mail firearms from Florida to Puerto Rico. Specifically, Mangual mailed, from Tampa, Florida to addresses in Puerto Rico, two packages containing firearms. He then flew to Puerto Rico where he planned to retrieve the packages and deliver the firearms to others. One of those packages was intercepted by USPS, leading to Mangual’s arrest.
“We will vigorously prosecute those involved in the illegal trafficking of firearms, which are subsequently used in the commission of violent crimes,” said United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. “We will continue working with the all law enforcement authorities to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals, who all too frequently endanger our community.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeanette Collazo is in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted, the defendant faces up to two (2) years in prison for the charges under 18 U.S.C. § 1715; and five (5) years in prison for the charges under 18 U.S.C. §§ 371 and 922(e)). An indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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