SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Ángel Ayala-Dávila (“Ayala-Dávila"), 19, pled guilty to Count One of an information which charged him, aided and abetted by others, with the carjacking murder of Roy Figueiredo-Ramos, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. As part of the plea agreement the parties have recommended a sentencing range of 24 to 30 years’ imprisonment.
On September 8, 2013, Roy Figueiredo-Ramos (“victim"), arrived at the Las Dalias Public Housing Project (“LDPHP") in San Juan, PR, driving a grey 2002 Toyota Camry, which he parked in front of building 29 of LDPHP. Co-defendant Victor Miguel Duluc-Méndez, charged in a separate indictment, approached the victim and inquired if he was interested in selling the vehicle. The victim replied that he was not, but that he was willing to rent it. Shortly thereafter, Ayala-Dávila joined the conversation. Ayala-Dávila expressed he liked the 2002 Toyota Camry.
Duluc, Ayala-Dávila and another unknown male stepped away from the victim’s vehicle and started planning how to take the vehicle and keep it for themselves. Ayala-Dávila went into his apartment and grabbed a.40 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol. Thereafter, Duluc, Ayala-Dávila and others took the victim’s car by force. Duluc drove the victim’s vehicle with victim in the front passenger seat, and Ayala-Dávila sat in the rear right passenger seat behind victim.
Duluc eventually drove the victim’s vehicle to the Banco Popular Branch located at Plaza Escorial shopping center, along with Ayala-Dávila and the victim. He parked the vehicle in Banco Popular’s parking lot. Ayala-Dávila requested the victim’s ATM card and the PIN number. The victim complied and gave the ATM card and PIN number to Duluc, who went to the ATM machine and withdrew $150.00.
Once the money was withdrawn, Duluc departed the Banco Popular Branch along with the victim and Ayala-Dávila. Duluc drove towards Trujillo Alto, PR, stopping in a rural area between Trujillo Alto and Carolina. Ayala-Dávila told the victim to step out to verify whether the vehicle had a flat tire. The victim and Ayala-Dávila exited the vehicle. The victim verified the front right tire of the vehicle and, as he turned around in the direction of Ayala-Dávila, Ayala-Dávila produced the pistol, pointed it at the victim’s head and fired one shot. The victim died as a result of this gunshot wound.
After shooting the victim, Ayala-Dávila got into the front right passenger side of the victim’s vehicle, and Duluc drove them back to LDPHP. Ayala-Dávila proclaimed that the victim’s vehicle belonged to him because he had been the one who killed the victim.
“The senseless crime that these men committed had fatal consequences," said United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. “Ayala-Dávila’s guilty plea brings us a step closer to bringing justice and closure to the victim and his family."
The sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 26, 2015. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia Díaz-Rex.
Victor Miguel Duluc-Méndez pled guilty on May 1st, 2014; his sentencing is scheduled for June 25, 2015. He faces a sentence of 30 years.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
