Embezzlement Scandal Rocks Puerto Rico Business Community

A significant embezzlement scheme has been uncovered in Puerto Rico’s business community, with four individuals accused of conspiring to commit bribery and fraud.

Staggering Indictment Reveals Fraudulent Scheme

According to a 20-count indictment handed down by the Federal Grand Jury in the District of Puerto Rico, Ariel Pintado-Montalvo, a motor vehicle importer, allegedly paid thousands of dollars in bribes to employees at the Puerto Rico Department of Treasury (Hacienda) in exchange for fraudulent approval of vehicle excise-tax declarations.

Scheme Details

The scheme, which spanned from 2020 to 2021, involved Pintado-Montalvo’s payments to Hacienda employees Antonio Silva-Rodriguez, Hector Vazquez-Barroso, and Doris Bonilla-Valle. In exchange for the bribes, the employees allegedly approved fraudulent declarations that resulted in a decrease in excise tax paid by Pintado-Montalvo and a loss of revenue for Hacienda.

How the Scheme Worked

The scheme was made possible through Hacienda’s digital platform, Sistema Unificado de Rentas Internas (SURI), which was used to administer and collect vehicle excise-taxes on imported vehicles. By inputting incorrect vehicle identification numbers into SURI, Pintado-Montalvo and the Hacienda employees were able to avoid paying the correct amount of excise tax.

Investigation and Prosecution

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Homeland Security (HSI), and the Puerto Rico Department of Treasury, with assistance from the Puerto Rico Police Bureau and the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor O. Acevedo-Hernández is prosecuting the case.

Quotes

“This prosecution serves as a warning to other public employees involved in these types of schemes that they will be investigated and prosecuted,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow. “Corruption is a complex problem, but we will continue to aggressively pursue corrupt individuals who take advantage of the system for personal gain.”

Next Steps

The case has not yet gone to trial, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Conclusion

This embezzlement scandal highlights the importance of zero tolerance for corruption in public institutions. The collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies will continue to pursue and prosecute corrupt individuals who compromise the integrity of the system.