Strategic Federal Litigation powered by Unmatched Experience

  • Police Reform Leader.
  • Governor's Security Advisor.
  • International Law Enforcement Coordinator.
Max J. Pérez-Bouret

20+ years leading high-risk federal litigation, dismantling transnational criminal networks, and advising the highest levels of government.

A Different Kind of Federal Defense Attorney

A Proven Leader in Federal Litigation and Government Strategy

Max J. Pérez-Bouret brings a perspective few attorneys can offer—one forged on both sides of federal litigation: as an Assistant Federal Public Defender, as Chief Prosecutor in the U.S. Department of Justice, as a police reform leader, as the Governor's security advisor, and as an international law enforcement coordinator at the U.S. Embassy. Now, he has returned to his roots—defending your rights, your freedom, and your future.

  • Max J. Pérez-Bouret 1
  • Max J. Pérez-Bouret 2
  • Max J. Pérez-Bouret 3

20+ Federal jury trials litigated.

100+ Extraditions per year coordinated at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia.

Over more than two decades, he has litigated more than 20 federal jury trials, successfully argued appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, led multi-agency operations that dismantled international criminal networks, and secured the first CPOT extradition in the history of the District of Puerto Rico.

Recipient of the prestigious John Marshall Award for Interagency Cooperation (2013), the Executive Office Director's Superior Performance Award (2018), and the HSI Prosecutor of the Year Award (2022), he is recognized nationally for excellence in litigation, interagency coordination, and strategic leadership.

What he does

Practice Areas & Core Expertise

Federal Criminal Defense & White-Collar Litigation

Strategic, precise, and informed representation in complex federal matters. Attorney Pérez-Bouret has prosecuted the cases he now defends—from RICO conspiracies to securities fraud, from narcotics trafficking to public corruption. This dual perspective allows him to anticipate the government's strategy, identify weaknesses in their case, and develop creative defense strategies others might miss.

RICO & Organized CrimeFraud & White-Collar OffensesFirearms & Violent CrimesNarcotics TraffickingHigh-Risk Federal Litigation

Government Consulting & Institutional Strategy

Strategic advisory for organizations facing government scrutiny, regulatory challenges, or institutional crises. Attorney Pérez-Bouret directed Puerto Rico police reform, advised the Governor on public safety, and coordinated multi-agency federal operations. His executive-level government experience informs his consulting practice in internal investigations, regulatory compliance, crisis management, and government relations.

Public Safety StrategyInternal InvestigationsInteragency CoordinationCompliance & Policy Development

International Law Enforcement Coordination & Extradition

As Assistant Judicial Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia (2024-2025), Attorney Pérez-Bouret advised the world's largest extradition program—coordinating the return of over 100 international defendants annually and serving as liaison between U.S. federal agencies, the State Department, and Colombian authorities. This recent diplomatic experience provides unique insight into international criminal proceedings, extradition procedures, cross-border evidence gathering, and multi-jurisdictional defense strategies—experience few criminal defense attorneys possess.

Extradition ProceedingsCross-Border InvestigationsInternational Criminal NetworksFederal-Foreign Agency Coordination
Representative Cases

Results That Demonstrate Excellence

Attorney Pérez-Bouret has prosecuted some of the most significant federal cases in recent years—experience that now informs every defense strategy he develops. His work demonstrates not only legal mastery but strategic precision—and that same excellence now serves clients facing federal charges

The Lt. Osvaldo Albarati Case

Lead prosecutor in United States v. Oscar Hernández-Martínez, securing a conviction and a life sentence for the ambush and murder of Federal Bureau of Prisons official Lt. Osvaldo Albarati.

This complex federal murder prosecution required coordination across multiple federal agencies and public safety partners to obtain justice for Lt. Albarati and his family.

Recognized with the prestigious Executive Office Director's Award for Superior Performance by a Litigation Team (2018) in recognition of this high-profile case.

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Isla de Cabras Weapons Theft Case

Lead prosecutor in United States v. José Padilla Galarza, securing the conviction of a former Puerto Rico Police Bureau officer for Hobbs Act robbery involving 126 firearms from the Police Shooting Range at Isla de Cabras.

The defendant, who swore to protect the public, instead orchestrated the theft of service weapons from his own department's armory—the largest firearms robbery in Puerto Rico's history.

Secured a guilty verdict and a 25-year federal prison sentence in this high-profile case that received extensive media coverage.

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International CPOT Extraditions

Secured the first-ever CPOT (Consolidated Priority Organization Target) extradition in the District of Puerto Rico's history—a milestone that had eluded federal prosecutors for decades.

As Lead OCDETF Attorney (2019-2025), went on to extradite 5 CPOT's in total—the Attorney General's highest-priority international drug traffickers—fundamentally transforming Puerto Rico's role in dismantling global narcotics networks.

In FY 2024, led the district to rank #4 among all 94 U.S. Attorney's Offices nationwide in extraditions of Colombian drug lords.

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HSI's 2022 Prosecutor of the Year Award

HSI's 2022 Prosecutor of the Year Award

Recognized as HSI's 2022 Prosecutor of the Year for leading complex transnational organized crime investigations as Chief of the Transnational Organized Crime Section.

Former Police Officer Sentenced to 25 Years of Imprisonment for Stealing 125 Firearms from the Puerto Rico Police Bureau Shooting Range at Isla De Cabra

Tuesday, November 29, 2022

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – United States District Court Judge Sylvia Carreño Coll sentenced José Padilla-Galarza to a total of 25 years' imprisonment and five years of supervised release for the theft of 125 firearms. Specifically, the defendant will be serving 20 years of imprisonment for his conviction on May 6, 2022, for counts One and Six, conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act), concurrent with 10 years of imprisonment for his conviction on counts Three and Five, stealing firearms and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He will also serve 5 years of imprisonment, consecutive to the 20-year sentence, for his conviction under count Two, carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

"As proven at trial, the defendant, a former Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB) officer, used his specialized knowledge of the PRPB to enrich himself by stealing and selling firearms," said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. "The sentence imposed demonstrates the seriousness of defendant's crimes and the Justice Department's determination to investigate and prosecute such a blatant abuse of trust. Thanks to the diligent work of ATF, ICE-HSI, the FBI, and our trial team, the defendant will spend decades in federal prison for his crimes."

During the trial, the government presented evidence that showed that Padilla-Galarza visited the PRPB Isla de Cabra Shooting Range on multiple occasions over a one-year period to become familiar with the personnel, their shifts, and the layout of the facility. Padilla-Galarza, as mastermind of the October 26, 2010, robbery at the range, took this time to plan how he and his co-conspirators would take 125 firearms from this PRPB facility, including two pistols taken from duty officers, 40 AR-15 rifles, 24 shotguns, nine 9mm carbines, one MP3 rifle, and 49 pistols.

During the robbery, the co-conspirators used a white Ford Crown Victoria with fake PRPB decals to give it the appearance of an official PRPB patrol car and dressed as PRPB police officers, some in regular police uniforms and others in tactical uniforms. The co-conspirators assaulted, subdued, and bound the duty police officers at the range and stole the firearms stored in the vault to subsequently sell them for significant pecuniary gain and profit. This was the biggest firearms robbery in the history of Puerto Rico.

Padilla-Galarza's 25-year sentence of imprisonment in this Hobbs Act case is also to be served consecutive to the 228-month term of imprisonment imposed by United States District Judge Daniel R. Dominguez on October 15, 2018, for conspiracy to commit bank robbery and bank robbery by force.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) led the investigation with the collaboration of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The case was prosecuted and tried by Assistant United States Attorneys Max Pérez-Bouret and Jawayria Z. Auchter.

Discuss Your Legal Strategy

Direct Contact Information

Calle O'Neill G-14, Suite A, Hato Rey, PR 00918
(787) 990-5212
maxperezbouret@lexmaxpr.com

All inquiries are handled with strict confidentiality.