U.S. Marshals Violent Offender Task Force Arrests Federal Fugitive Linked to ‘Los Viraos’ Transnational Criminal Organization
Ponce, PR / December 03, 2025 – The U.S. Marshals Service Puerto Rico Violent Offender Task Force (PRVOTF) today arrested without incident in Ponce a dangerous federal fugitive linked to a violent transnational criminal organization.
Julio A. Torres Roche was indicted in September along with 43 members of “Los Viraos” on charges including conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and illegal firearm possession in furtherance of drug trafficking.
According to the federal indictment, Torres Roche was part of a violent crew that broke ties with a larger notorious criminal organization in the municipality of Caguas, initiating an extremely violent territorial gang war marked by armed confrontations, mostly with automatic weapons, and often in public settings with innocent bystanders getting killed in the crossfire.
Torres Roche remained a fugitive and allegedly continued participating in drug trafficking and weapons-related offenses, according to investigative findings developed by the task force.
In recent months, task force members developed information about Torres Roche’s whereabouts and, thanks to valuable community cooperation, task force members were able to locate him and take him into custody in Building 28 of the Arístides Chavier Public Housing Complex.
During the arrest, authorities seized the following items and controlled substances:
• A large quantity of crack cocaine packets, heroin decks, and marijuana baggies
• A modified handgun capable of automatic fire
• Magazines and ammunition
• A cellular phone
• Ledger notebooks
• Several hundred dollars in cash
All evidence was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations, the lead investigative agency responsible for the indictment. The U.S. Marshals Service acknowledged the close collaboration of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau and Housing and Urban Development personnel in this operation.
“The commitment of our U.S. Marshals Violent Offender Task Force in Puerto Rico is to capture violent fugitives and bring them to justice. Our citizens deserve safe communities, free from these dangerous individuals,” said Wilmer Ocasio-Ibarra, U.S. Marshal for the District of Puerto Rico. “We remain vigilant, fully engaged, and grateful for the cooperation of the community, whose information helped lead to this significant arrest. We encourage our residents to continue sharing information to help keep Puerto Rico safe.”
If you have information about the whereabouts of any state or federal fugitive, please contact the U.S. Marshals Service at 1-877-WANTED2 or submit information through the USMS Tips App.
PRVOTF partners include the U.S. Marshals Service for the District of Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, San Juan Police Department, Bayamón Police Department, the Puerto Rico State Marshal’s Office, the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections, the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office, the Puerto Rico Department of Internal Revenue, and the Puerto Rico National Guard Counterdrug Program.
The mission of the PRVOTF remains clear: locate and arrest violent fugitives, protect communities from dangerous offenders, and uphold justice without exception.
Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at https://www.usmarshals.gov.
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Source: U.S. Marshals Service (usmarshals.gov)
