A federal grand jury has indicted three officers from the Puerto Rico Police Bureau on charges including civil rights violations, conspiracy to falsify records, falsification of records, and making false statements to federal agents. The indictment names Luis A. Nieves-Colón, Ángel R. Giusti-Rosa, and Alberto Betancourt-Aponte.
The case stems from an arrest that took place on March 7, 2023, at the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project in Carolina, Puerto Rico. According to court documents, Nieves-Colón is accused of using unreasonable force during the arrest of an individual identified as J.C.F.G., which resulted in bodily injury.
Count One of the indictment alleges that Nieves-Colón deprived J.C.F.G. of the right to be free from unreasonable force while acting under color of law. Counts Two through Six charge all three officers with conspiring to falsify and actually falsifying police use-of-force reports and other documents connected to the incident. The indictment claims they omitted details about a police officer striking J.C.F.G. and created false narratives regarding what happened during the arrest.
Betancourt-Aponte faces an additional charge for allegedly making a materially false statement to FBI agents during a November 14, 2025 interview by stating he had no knowledge that a fellow officer struck J.C.F.G.
W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, stated: “The vast majority of police officers serve our communities with honor. But when they misuse their authority, they deprive victims of their civil rights and diminish the public’s trust in our criminal justice system. The Department of Justice remain steadfast in safeguarding the constitutional rights of all residents of Puerto Rico.”
Joe Rodriguez, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office, commented: “We are committed to pursuing those who undermine the integrity of law enforcement. These arrests are an example of how no one is above the law – even those who enforce it cannot falsify records or evade justice. The FBI will remain vigilant, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to tackle corruption and uphold justice for the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. If you have information on this or any other federal crime leave a tip online through tips.fbi.gov or call 1-800-CALL-FBI. Tips can be handled confidentially.”
If convicted on all counts:
- Civil rights violation carries up to ten years in prison.
- Conspiracy may result in up to five years.
- Each count for falsification of records could bring up to twenty years.
- Making false statements can lead to up to five years imprisonment.
Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on sentencing guidelines and statutory factors.
The FBI has encouraged anyone with information related to this case or similar incidents at Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project on March 7, 2023, to contact its San Juan Field Office at (787) 987-6500 or submit information online at www.tips.fbi.gov.
It was emphasized that indictments are allegations only; defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
