SAN JUAN—Today, Sol Luis Fontanes-Olivo,
former mayor of the municipality of Barceloneta, Puerto Rico, was sentenced to
120 months (10 years) in prison, a $150,000 fine, forfeiture of $60,000, and
three years of supervised release, by United States District Court Judge José
A. Fusté, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the
District of Puerto Rico. Fontanes-Olivo was charged for bribery concerning
programs receiving federal funds.
Another co-conspirator involved in this
bribery scheme was Francisco A. Pumarejo-Rodríguez, former planning director
for the municipality of Barceloneta since 1993. Among Pumarejo-Rodríguez’s
duties was the coordination of planning and budget matters on behalf of
Barceloneta. He was sentenced on August 17, 2012, to time served and five years
of probation.
Juan Antonio San Miguel and Developer A
were contractors who were doing business with the municipality of Barceloneta.
According to the indictment, defendants Fontanes-Olivo and Pumarejo-Rodríguez,
aiding and abetting each other, being agents of the municipality of
Barceloneta, did knowingly accept and agree to accept a thing of value from a
person, approximately $50,000 from Developer A and $40,000 from San Miguel,
both intending to be rewarded in connection with a business. The sentence for
San Miguel is scheduled for October 10, 2012, at 9:30 a.m.
During previous hearings held in court,
the U.S. Attorney’s Office showed audio and video recordings of Fontanes-Olivo
making arrangements for payments and receiving the same. The bribe payments
were picked up by Pumarejo-Rodríguez who in turn delivered the payments to
Fontanes-Olivo. The payments were kickbacks corruptly solicited by the mayor in
relation to the sale of properties in the municipality. The payments received
by the mayor exceeded $50,000.
“This sentence reflects the serious
nature of the offenses charged in this corruption case. Dishonest public
officials who request illegal payments from contractors as a regular course of
business do not serve the interests of their constituents,” said U.S. Attorney
Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. “We hope that this tough sentence sends a clear
message that this conduct is reprehensible and carries serious consequences”.
“Public corruption is unacceptable because
it undermines the faith citizens should have in their government officials, and
it severely weakens the image of public service,” said Joseph Campbell, Special
Agent in Charge of the FBI-San Juan Field Office. “The FBI has always
encouraged individuals with information about any public corruption scheme to
assist us in the fight against such an insidious threat.”
This case was investigated by the FBI
and is being prosecuted by AUSA Charles Walsh.
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