U.S. Marshals Service Puerto Rico Apprehends Most Wanted Fugitive, Associate

San Juan, PR – On the night of Aug. 5, police officers from the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB) investigated a shooting in the Municipality of Carolina involving three men, two of whom were federal fugitives.

The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Puerto Rico Violent Offenders Task Force assumed custody of the two men wanted in Puerto Rico on charges of conspiracy to possess and distribute heroin, cocaine, marijuana, Percocet and Xanax, as well as on weapons charges.

One of the men was Juan Cancio Rivera-Balestier, 37, who is on the 10 Most Wanted list from the U.S. Marshals Service in the District of Puerto Rico. The USMS also assumed jurisdiction of Julio Ortiz-Ortiz, 35. Both men were indicted Aug. 3, 2022, and accused under operation ZIKLAG of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

According to the USMS investigation, Rivera-Balestier and Ortiz-Ortiz were part of a violent drug trafficking organization known as “La Familia” that operates in public housing projects Jardines de Country Club, Residencial Monte Hatillo, Residencial Monte Park and the “El Polvorín” neighborhood in Carolina, Puerto Rico.

According to the authorities, after the indictment Rivera-Balestier remained a fugitive and became the leader of the criminal organization. “La Familia” members, who call themselves PV or PV Familia, have been distributing heroin, cocaine, marijuana, Percocet and Xanax in various housing projects, where multiple violent murders have occurred that are associated with the criminal organization. As part of the conspiracy, members of “La Familia” change the location of the drug sales points to avoid being detected by the police.

“These two men are highly dangerous and even though they had an arrest warrant against them, they continued with their criminal activity, which is why they ended up being stalked and shot by an enemy side,” said PRPB Commissioner, Col. Antonio López Figueroa. “The arrest of both individuals is the product of the joint and continuous work between our police officers and the office of the U.S. Marshals, work that has managed to get hundreds of individuals off the street who threaten the safety of our communities. The investigative work in this case continues in order to clarify multiple crimes attributed to these individuals.”

“We are pleased with the results of our ongoing collaboration with the Puerto Rico Police Bureau,” said Wilmer Ocasio-Ibarra, U.S. Marshal for the District of Puerto Rico. “As I always say, bringing fugitives to justice is only one of the consequences. Fortunately, this time there were no innocent victims in the shooting that led to the identification of these violent fugitives. Although they may try to hide, they should always know that the U.S. Marshals Service will not stop until they find you and bring you to justice.”

The U.S. Marshals Service encourages the community to continue to collaborate with our deputies on tips that help find fugitives by contacting our local office at (787) 766-6540, calling the U.S. Marshals Service Communication Center at 1 (800) 336-0102, or submitting tips using the USMS Tips App.