U.S. Marshals Arrest 2 Puerto Rican Fugitives in the Bronx Wanted for Attempted Murder of Law Enforcement Officer
New York, NY – Early this morning, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) and the New York Police Department (NYPD) with the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force (NY/NJRFTF), arrested the second of two suspects wanted by Puerto Rican authorities for attempted murder of a law enforcement officer.
The arrest of Hector Manuel Cruz-Ayala, aka “Gordo Gordo,” comes on the heels of Monday’s capture of Jay Livan Diaz del Valle, aka “El Cantante,” his partner and alleged fellow member of the “Los Viraos” criminal organization in Cayey, Puerto Rico.
Diaz del Valle, along with Cruz-Ayala, was a suspect in the May 5 murder of Ezequiel Lleras Corredor, 26, and the wounding of another patron in a Puerto Rico nightclub incident. After posting bail, they shot at uniformed drug enforcement officers attempting to arrest them for illegal gun possession and subsequently fled Puerto Rico. Both men were considered armed and dangerous and people of interest in the latest murders in the Cayey community.
After the warrant was received from the District of Puerto Rico, the case was rapidly adopted by the USMS NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force, working closely with the NYPD. On Monday, investigators identified and located Diaz del Valle, arresting him without incident. Coincident to the arrest, information was developed that led law enforcement to the location Cruz-Ayala, who was tracked to the Bronx, apprehended and turned over to the NYPD detective squad for further questioning and processing.
Ralph Sozio, the U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of New York, praised the efforts of the USMS RFTF, NYPD, USMS Puerto Rico Violent Offender Task force and Puerto Rico Police Department.
“Anyone who attempts to cause harm or death to law enforcement officials or innocent citizens by shooting at them with no regards for life - you cannot hide,” Sozio said. “This should be a message to violent gang organizations that engage in senseless shootings that we will use all the resources at our disposal to find you and bring you to justice.”
The New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force began operations in April 2002 and was the first regional fugitive task force to become fully operational following the Presidential Threat Protection Act of 2000. The NY/NJRFTF was the flagship that has allowed seven other regional fugitive task forces to be created across the country. With partnership agreements with over 90 federal, state, or local agencies and 13 fully operational offices, the NY/NJRFTF has successfully apprehended over 95,000 fugitives since inception.
Source: U.S. Marshals Service, usmarshals.gov
