A former federal task force agent has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for corruption. Antonio Pizarro Adorno, a former Puerto Rico Special Investigations Bureau officer, was assigned to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (HSI) when he committed the crime.
On April 27, 2023, Pizarro Adorno took $170 in cash seized by the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB), with the intent to impair its integrity and availability for use in an investigation being conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives related to drug trafficking in a community in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The case was investigated by the FBI San Juan Field Office, Public Corruption Unit, with the collaboration of the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie Christine Amy prosecuted the case.
U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico and Devin J. Kowalski, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, made the announcement. On March 13, 2025, after a five-day jury trial, a federal jury convicted Antonio Pizarro Adorno.
United States District Court Judge Camille Vélez-Rivé sentenced Pizarro Adorno to 15 months in prison and three years of Supervised Release Term for corruptly concealing $170 during a law enforcement seizure. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime and the need to hold law enforcement officials accountable for their actions.
The conviction and sentencing of Pizarro Adorno serve as a reminder that corruption will not be tolerated within the law enforcement community. The FBI and other agencies will continue to investigate and prosecute cases of corruption to ensure that the public trust is maintained.
In this case, the corruption was related to a drug trafficking investigation in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were conducting the investigation, and the seized cash was intended to be used as evidence.
The actions of Pizarro Adorno undermined the integrity of the investigation and the trust of the public. The sentence imposed by Judge Vélez-Rivé reflects the severity of the crime and the need to hold law enforcement officials to a higher standard.
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Key Facts
- State: Puerto Rico
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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