FBI arrests Puerto Rico Rep. Mara Milagros Charbonier, family members in public corruption case
The legislator, who once presided over the island's House Ethics Committee, was charged in a public corruption case that officials say also involved her son, husband and an assistant.
Aug. 17, 2020, 9:33 AM CDT / Updated Aug. 17, 2020, 9:35 AM CDT / Source: Associated Press
By Associated Press
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — FBI agents on Monday arrested Puerto Rico Rep. María Milagros Charbonier after the legislator who once presided over the island's House Ethics Committee was charged in a public corruption case that officials say also involved her son, husband and an assistant.
U.S. Attorney Stephen Muldrow said it was a simple scheme in which Charbonier allegedly received some $100,000 in bribes and kickbacks after increasing the pay of her assistant, Frances Acevedo, from $800 every two weeks to nearly $3,000, and then received between $1,000 to $1,500 in return for every paycheck.
“It wasn’t very complicated,” he said of the alleged scheme that lasted three years, adding that Acevedo on one occasion placed the cash promised to Charbonier in the legislator’s glove compartment at her request.
Muldrow also accused Charbonier of deleting phone messages related to the alleged corruption.
Charbonier, who earned $2,500 every two weeks as legislator, faces charges including theft, money laundering and obstruction of justice. She is one of Puerto Rico’s most conservative and religious legislators and once sued in an attempt to ban same-sex marriage on the island. Charbonier has served as representative since her election in 2012 but just lost in Sunday’s primaries. Charbonier also previously served as secretary general for the pro-statehood New Progressive Party.
More:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/fbi-arrests-puerto-rico-legislator-3-others-according-party-official-n1236925
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