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| Puerto Rico Ex-Officials Accused of Steering $15.5 Million in Contracts to Consultants | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| MIAMI — The federal authorities in Puerto Rico unveiled a sprawling corruption investigation into high levels of the island’s government on Wednesday, announcing arrests and criminal charges against six people, including two former agency directors. | MIAMI — The federal authorities in Puerto Rico unveiled a sprawling corruption investigation into high levels of the island’s government on Wednesday, announcing arrests and criminal charges against six people, including two former agency directors. |
| The Justice Department accused Julia Keleher, the former education secretary, and Ángela Ávila Marrero, the former executive director of the Puerto Rico Health Insurance Administration, of unlawfully steering about $15.5 million in federal contracts to politically connected consultants. | The Justice Department accused Julia Keleher, the former education secretary, and Ángela Ávila Marrero, the former executive director of the Puerto Rico Health Insurance Administration, of unlawfully steering about $15.5 million in federal contracts to politically connected consultants. |
| The others arrested were Glenda E. Ponce-Mendoza and Mayra Ponce-Mendoza, two sisters who worked as education contractors; Fernando Scherrer Caillet, an executive at the B.D.O. accounting firm; and Alberto Velázquez Piñol, a consultant. The two businessmen face charges of money laundering, among the most serious accusations laid out in the 32-count indictment. | The others arrested were Glenda E. Ponce-Mendoza and Mayra Ponce-Mendoza, two sisters who worked as education contractors; Fernando Scherrer Caillet, an executive at the B.D.O. accounting firm; and Alberto Velázquez Piñol, a consultant. The two businessmen face charges of money laundering, among the most serious accusations laid out in the 32-count indictment. |
| Rosa Emilia Rodríguez Vélez, the United States attorney for Puerto Rico, said the men used their political influence to improperly obtain contracts, and then used that money for illegal lobbying. | Rosa Emilia Rodríguez Vélez, the United States attorney for Puerto Rico, said the men used their political influence to improperly obtain contracts, and then used that money for illegal lobbying. |
| Neither Ms. Keleher nor Ms. Ávila personally benefited from the scheme, Ms. Rodríguez said. Of the fraudulent contracts, about $13 million were funneled through the education department, she said, and about $2.5 million through the health insurance administration. Ms. Keleher was friends with the Ponce-Mendoza sisters; Glenda was her assistant. | Neither Ms. Keleher nor Ms. Ávila personally benefited from the scheme, Ms. Rodríguez said. Of the fraudulent contracts, about $13 million were funneled through the education department, she said, and about $2.5 million through the health insurance administration. Ms. Keleher was friends with the Ponce-Mendoza sisters; Glenda was her assistant. |
| Investigators found that government officials and employees used personal email and Telegram, a mobile encrypted messaging app, to conduct government business. | Investigators found that government officials and employees used personal email and Telegram, a mobile encrypted messaging app, to conduct government business. |
| “This type of corruption is particularly egregious because it not only victimizes taxpayers, it victimizes those citizens and students that are in need of education assistance,” said Neil Sanchez, the special agent in charge of the southern region of the inspector general’s office at the United States Department of Education, which first flagged that something was amiss in Puerto Rico. | “This type of corruption is particularly egregious because it not only victimizes taxpayers, it victimizes those citizens and students that are in need of education assistance,” said Neil Sanchez, the special agent in charge of the southern region of the inspector general’s office at the United States Department of Education, which first flagged that something was amiss in Puerto Rico. |
| Ms. Keleher’s arrest was especially notable, following a tumultuous tenure in which she closed hundreds of public schools, citing Puerto Rico’s diminishing population and dwindling resources. | Ms. Keleher’s arrest was especially notable, following a tumultuous tenure in which she closed hundreds of public schools, citing Puerto Rico’s diminishing population and dwindling resources. |
| And the arrests come at a delicate time for Puerto Rico’s leaders, who are asking Congress — which earlier this year held up a national disaster aid package over a fight about how much to send to the island — to approve $12 billion for the island’s Medicaid program, which faces a looming funding shortfall. | And the arrests come at a delicate time for Puerto Rico’s leaders, who are asking Congress — which earlier this year held up a national disaster aid package over a fight about how much to send to the island — to approve $12 billion for the island’s Medicaid program, which faces a looming funding shortfall. |
| The investigation could also renew criticism from President Trump, the most prominent skeptic of sending aid to Puerto Rico, who has repeatedly cast the island’s leaders as incompetent. | The investigation could also renew criticism from President Trump, the most prominent skeptic of sending aid to Puerto Rico, who has repeatedly cast the island’s leaders as incompetent. |
| Ms. Rodríguez, the prosecutor, said that the investigation shows that the authorities are doing their job effectively. | Ms. Rodríguez, the prosecutor, said that the investigation shows that the authorities are doing their job effectively. |
| “The message this sends is that the system does work,” Ms. Rodríguez said at a news conference in San Juan. But she lamented that many similar corruption arrests had been made in Puerto Rico over numerous administrations. | “The message this sends is that the system does work,” Ms. Rodríguez said at a news conference in San Juan. But she lamented that many similar corruption arrests had been made in Puerto Rico over numerous administrations. |
| “It’s a shame that we see this type of scheme, one after another,” she said. | “It’s a shame that we see this type of scheme, one after another,” she said. |
| The latest arrests rocked the administration of Gov. Ricardo A. Rosselló, who said he would cut short a family vacation in France to hastily return to Puerto Rico. | The latest arrests rocked the administration of Gov. Ricardo A. Rosselló, who said he would cut short a family vacation in France to hastily return to Puerto Rico. |
| “It is time to be present on the island and reiterate the message personally: the agenda of this Government does not stop, despite those who have incorrectly decided to treason the trust of the People,” Mr. Rosselló, a Democrat, said in a statement. | “It is time to be present on the island and reiterate the message personally: the agenda of this Government does not stop, despite those who have incorrectly decided to treason the trust of the People,” Mr. Rosselló, a Democrat, said in a statement. |
| Ms. Rodríguez said the governor was not involved in the investigation. | Ms. Rodríguez said the governor was not involved in the investigation. |
| Just last month, Ms. Ávila traveled to Capitol Hill to warn that a shortfall in September risked the Medicaid health care coverage for about 1.5 million Puerto Ricans, who are American citizens. She resigned five days later, on June 25, after Mr. Rosselló’s chief of staff revealed that the governor had spoken to a federal grand jury that was investigating Mr. Velázquez, the consultant. | Just last month, Ms. Ávila traveled to Capitol Hill to warn that a shortfall in September risked the Medicaid health care coverage for about 1.5 million Puerto Ricans, who are American citizens. She resigned five days later, on June 25, after Mr. Rosselló’s chief of staff revealed that the governor had spoken to a federal grand jury that was investigating Mr. Velázquez, the consultant. |
| Mr. Velázquez was arrested on Wednesday in Greenwich, Conn. Ms. Keleher, who resigned from her position in April, was arrested in Washington. The other arrests took place in Puerto Rico. | Mr. Velázquez was arrested on Wednesday in Greenwich, Conn. Ms. Keleher, who resigned from her position in April, was arrested in Washington. The other arrests took place in Puerto Rico. |