SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico –3/20/26 – On March 19, 2026, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned a four-count indictment charging a Guaynabo man with kidnapping and carjacking a United States Postal Service letter carrier.
According to court documents, on or about November 25, 2025, Ariel Ayala Meléndez, 59, willfully seized, confined, kidnapped, abducted and carried away K.L.V.G., a United States Postal Service letter carrier while he was performing his official duties. The defendant compelled the victim, at knifepoint and against his will, to drive the postal vehicle from San Juan to the vicinity of Camino Paco Galán in Guaynabo, thereby restraining and holding the victim against his will, until K.L.V.G. crashed said vehicle to escape.
“Violent attacks on federal employees will not be tolerated,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “This indictment demonstrates that, along with our law enforcement partners, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to holding accountable those responsible for acts of violence that terrorize local communities and those who serve those communities.”
“The most important job of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is the safety of our employees,” said Bladismir Rojo, Inspector in Charge of the Miami Division. He added, “This arrest is a result of the determined efforts exhibited by our postal inspectors, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners.”
Ayala Meléndez is charged with the following counts: (1) kidnapping or impeding certain officers or employees; (2) assault on a federal employee with a dangerous weapon; (3) robbery of a mail custodian; and (4) carjacking. The defendant made his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Giselle López Soler of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison for count one; up to 20 years in prison for counts two and three; and up to 15 years in prison for count four. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is the lead agency of the investigation with the collaboration of the FBI and the Puerto Rico Police Department.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Edwin Cabán Jr. from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
