GRAND JURY CHARGES EX-MARINE FROM VIRGINIA WITH MURDER IN THE DEATHS OF TWO LIVERY CAB DRIVERS

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a grand jury has indicted an ex-marine from Virginia on murder and other charges for allegedly shooting two livery cab drivers to death in separate incidents on October 19, 2002.

Roberto Mayen, 26, of Woodbridge, Virginia, was indicted on four counts of Murder in the 2nd degree and one count of Criminal possession of a weapon in the 2nd degree in the fatal shootings of Joe Robles, 35, and Kleber Valencia, 29. The grand jury filed the murder charges under two different legal theories. Under one theory, Mayen is accused of "intentionally" causing the deaths of his two victims. Under the second, Mayen is charged with causing the deaths "in a manner evincing a depraved indifference to human life." Mayen is facing a maximum sentence of 50 years to life imprisonment if convicted of the murder charges.

Mayen is being held without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment in Bronx State Supreme Court, Part B, on Wednesday, November 13, 2002.

Mayan allegedly gunned down his victims with a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol. Robles was shot first, at the intersection of Commonwealth and Westchester Avenues, at approximately 7:30 p.m. on October 19, 2002. A short time later Valencia was shot with the same weapon while standing on the sidewalk in front of 447 White Plains Road. The defendant then fled to Canada. He was apprehended in Maine the next morning when he returned to the United States. Mayan was taken into custody following a high speed hase after failing to stop for a routine check at the border.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Daniel McCarthy, Chief Trial Counsel and Director of Trial Training.