José Luis Cruz-Cruz, Bribery, Puerto Rico 2022

A high-ranking government official in Puerto Rico has been brought to justice for his role in a bribery scheme that shook the island’s municipal contracting system. On June 24, 2022, former Mayor of Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, José Luis Cruz-Cruz, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to engage in a bribery scheme.

According to court documents, Cruz-Cruz was the mayor and highest-ranking government official in the municipality of Trujillo Alto from 2009 until 2022. In 2020 and 2021, he directed municipal employees to execute municipal contracts with Company A and Company B. In exchange for this favor, Cruz-Cruz agreed to receive kickback payments in cash from Company A and Company B.

The case against Cruz-Cruz serves as another example of the ongoing efforts to combat public corruption in Puerto Rico. The FBI San Juan Field Office investigated the case, which led to Cruz-Cruz’s guilty plea and subsequent sentencing.

In addition to the term of imprisonment, José Luis Cruz-Cruz was sentenced to two years of supervised release. This brings an end to a bribery scheme that involved the acceptance of cash payments in exchange for municipal contracts.

The case is part of the Justice Department’s ongoing efforts to combat public corruption by municipal officials in Puerto Rico. In recent years, the Public Integrity Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico have obtained convictions against several former public officials and contractors for soliciting and accepting bribes related to municipal contracts.

The cases against these individuals demonstrate the seriousness with which the federal government views public corruption and the consequences that come with it. As the people of Puerto Rico continue to work towards a more transparent and accountable government, cases like this serve as a reminder that those who engage in corrupt activities will be held accountable.

The sentencing of José Luis Cruz-Cruz is a significant development in the ongoing fight against public corruption in Puerto Rico.

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