Sub-Director of the Carolina Municipal Aqueduct Authority Arrested for Bribery
Forfeiture Allegation for $27,000

SAN JUAN—Today, a federal grand jury indicted Luis Calderón-Rodríguez, for conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, announced United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. Calderón-Rodríguez was the sub-director of the Carolina Municipal Aqueduct Authority from at least July 1, 2006 through on or about June 27, 2011, when he was arrested.

The object of the conspiracy was for the defendant to unlawfully enrich himself by requesting cash bribe payments from municipal government contractors in exchange for the defendant’s influence and assistance in the negotiation and/or awarding of construction and maintenance contracts and/or transactions related to Carolina Municipal Aqueduct. The defendant prepared contract bids with pre-arranged costs and expenses for the contractor for formal submittal to the Municipality of Carolina’s bidding process. He would discuss the costs and expenses that he prepared using the contractor’s letterhead and agreed with the contractor on specific unlawful cash bribe payment of approximately 10 percent of the total value of the contract.

“Government officials are expected to follow the law and protect the interests of the public. Those who choose to use their positions as public servants to make illegal profits will be investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” said United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez.

“With so many examples of individuals that have been arrested and successfully prosecuted for corruption in Puerto Rico, I am astonished by the fact that this practice of accepting bribes continues. I urge all individuals with positions of public trust who may be involved in these corrupt practices to cease and desist immediately, because you will be arrested by the FBI and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Carlos Cases, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the FBI-San Juan Field Office.

The defendant faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison if found guilty in a court of law. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Héctor Ramírez-Carbó and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, San Juan Field Office - Public Corruption Squad.

An indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.