Two Puerto Rico Treasury Department (‘Hacienda’) agents, Edwin Aponte-Hernández and Eduardo Collazo-Torres, have been indicted by a federal grand jury for accepting bribes and extortion, according to United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. The charges stem from allegations that the agents obstructed commerce in June 2015 by obtaining property under false pretenses related to adult entertainment licensing in San Juan.
The investigation was spearheaded by the FBI, which also charged the defendants with accepting over $5,000 in bribes between January and December 2015. Both men were arrested on March 9, 2017.
U.S. Attorney Rodríguez-Vélez emphasized the breach of trust when a public servant exploits their position for personal gain. The FBI’s Special Agent in Charge Douglas Leff stated that the agency is dedicated to removing those who abuse their power for selfish purposes. Secretary Maldonado Gautier, Director of the Puerto Rico Treasury Department, echoed these sentiments, expressing the department’s commitment to integrity and transparency.
Lcdo. Raúl Maldonado Gautier, CPA, emphasized collaboration with federal authorities in pursuit of those who betray public trust. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas W. Cannon is handling the prosecution, with the FBI and PR Treasury Department as investigative partners.
Conviction for these charges carries a potential sentence of 20 years imprisonment. As always, the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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Key Facts
- State: Puerto Rico
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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