Individual Arrested For Threatening To Bomb El Capitolio

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico– Today, United States Magistrate Judge Sivlia Carreño-Coll authorized a criminal complaint against Ivan Zayd Guillama-Rosario, charging him for threatening to damage or destroy a building, to wit the Capitolio, by means of use of an explosive, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 844(e), announced United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. The FBI is in charge of the investigation.

According to the information contained in the complaint, the bomb threat was posted on April 28, 2017 on Facebook. The name on the account from which the threat was posted is “Ivan Zayd Guillama Rosario.” The post contained the following text: “¡VAMOS A BOMBARDEAR EL CAPITOLIO Y QUE EN PAZ DESCANSEN NUESTRAS CONCIENCIAS!” Translated from the Spanish language to the English language, the post states: “We are going to bomb the Capitol, and may our consciences rest in peace.”

On April 28, 2017, law enforcement officers located the defendant at his place of employment. Guillama-Rosario confirmed that he is the owner of the Facebook account Ivan Zayd Guillama Rosario and that he posted “!VAMOS A BOMBARDEAR EL CAPITOLIO Y QUE EN PAZ DESCANSEN NUESTRAS CONCIENCAS!” on Facebook on the same day.

“There is a fine line between free speech and incitement to violence. When that line is crossed, speech is no longer protected because it becomes criminal conduct,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.“Federal authorities and local law enforcement will closely monitor the protests that will be held on Monday, May 1^st. Although we believe that a large majority of the protesters will abide by the law, we will prosecute those who use social media and peaceful demonstrations to threaten, promote violence or incite violent acts.”

Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Alum is in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted, Guillama-Rosario faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, a term of supervised release of up to three years, and a fine of up to $250,000.