The mayors of two municipalities in Puerto Rico were arrested last week for allegedly engaging in conspiracy, soliciting bribes, and extortion.
According to the indictment, unsealed in the District of Puerto Rico, Javier García-Pérez, 46, Mayor of Aguas Buenas, was involved in a bribery conspiracy from 2017 through 2021.
He received and accepted cash payments from two businessmen in exchange for awarding municipal contracts for waste disposal services, asphalt and paving services, and debris removal and paying outstanding invoices on the contracts.
The indictment alleges that García-Pérez received at least $32,000 in cash payments from the two businessmen from August 2020 through September 2021.
A second indictment unsealed last week alleges that Reinaldo Vargas-Rodriguez, 48, Mayor of Humacao, was involved in a bribery conspiracy from January to July 2021.
He received and accepted cash payments from two businessmen in exchange for awarding municipal contracts for waste disposal and asphalt and paving services, and for paying outstanding invoices on the contracts.
The indictment alleges that Vargas-Rodriguez received at least $15,000 in cash payments from the two businessmen from March 18, 2021, through April 15, 2021.
If convicted of all counts, García-Pérez and Vargas-Rodriguez each face up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s San Juan Field Office.