Reinaldo Vargas-Rodríguez, Bribery Scheme, Puerto Rico 2021

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Former Mayor of Humacao, Puerto Rico, Pleads Guilty to Bribery Scheme

A former mayor of Humacao, Puerto Rico, has pleaded guilty to engaging in a bribery scheme in which he received cash payments for awarding municipal contracts to two companies.

According to court documents, from January to July 2021, Reinaldo Vargas-Rodríguez, 49, was involved in a bribery conspiracy in which he accepted thousands of dollars in cash bribes from the owner of a construction company and the owner of a trash collection company. In exchange, Vargas-Rodríguez agreed to secure contracts for both companies.

Vargas-Rodríguez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to solicit and accept bribes. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 14 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The bribery scheme, which involved Reinaldo Vargas-Rodríguez accepting thousands of dollars in cash bribes, is a serious offense that undermines the trust between public officials and the community they serve.

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr., U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph González of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement. The FBI San Juan Field Office investigated the case.

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

Reinaldo Vargas-Rodríguez’s guilty plea is a significant step in holding public officials accountable for their actions. The investigation and prosecution of public corruption cases are crucial in maintaining the integrity of the government and protecting the public interest.

Reinaldo Vargas-Rodríguez, a former mayor of Humacao, Puerto Rico, pleaded guilty to a bribery scheme in which he accepted thousands of dollars in cash bribes from the owner of a construction company and the owner of a trash collection company.