By: Steve Dellar | 07-16-2018 | News
Photo credit: Boston University

Puerto Rico - San Juan Mayor Party Members Charged With $3Million HUD Funds Fraud

When Hurricane Maria hit the island of Puerto Rico back in October 2017, the mayor of San Juan became a US celebrity after blaming US President Donald Trump for not doing enough for the island, appearing on all MSM channels and stating that US mainland states like Texas and Florida were getting help sooner after they were struck with similar natural disasters during the summer and fall months.

Many of the Democratic party blamed the White House administration of being ‘inhumane’ in its aid towards the island state, whilst the Republicans made it understood that corruption in Puerto Rico had been widespread for decades and that due to the lack of financial resources, the situation was already precarious before Hurricane Maria.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The regressive <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/misledia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#misledia</a> were all over <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Trump?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Trump</a> when he was issuing aid to these muppets…<br><br>…but it&#39;s gone awfully quiet from the same <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/media?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#media</a> now this has happened.<a href="https://t.co/Tv18yhJAjZ">https://t.co/Tv18yhJAjZ</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mayor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mayor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/POTUS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#POTUS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/disasterresponse?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#disasterresponse</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/aid?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#aid</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/medical?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#medical</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/developmentfinancing?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#developmentfinancing</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BBC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ABC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ABC</a></p>&mdash; Shepherd Group - Running a 100% Recycling Policy (@SatPhones_SESS) <a href="https://twitter.com/SatPhones_SESS/status/1018749962979610624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2018</a></blockquote>

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Now, politicians of the party of San Juan mayor Ms Carmen Yulín Cruz have been accused of fraud by taking as much as $3 million from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Another investigation into a possible further $5 million fraud of such funds is still ongoing.

A Puerto Rican mayor and two additional island officials have now been charged with corruption. The arrests paint a dire picture of widespread corruption and misuse of government funds during the same general time frame as the disaster.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;Could it be that corruption played a huge role in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, not the Trump admin? Why of course it could!&quot;, <a href="https://t.co/5CUHdB0QL2">https://t.co/5CUHdB0QL2</a></p>&mdash; 🇺🇸 🌹 🦅 Barracuda Brigade (@BarracudaMama) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarracudaMama/status/1018450181065527296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2018</a></blockquote>

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At the center of the fraudulent scheme is Mr Miguel Ortiz Vélez, who served as mayor in Puerto Rico. He is part of the Popular Democratic Party (an affiliate of the more well-known Democrat party in the mainland USA).

Related coverage: https://thegoldwater.com/news/9552-FBI-Investigating-Puerto-Rico-Officials-Misuse-Of-Emergency-Funds

US Attorney Ms Rosa Emilia Rodriguez said that she was furthermore investigating the misuse more than $5 million worth of federal funds and admitted that the corruption charges are only a first step of the investigation and that more Puerto Rican officials are under investigation.

The arrests came as the island of Puerto Rico continues to recuperate from the effects of Hurricane Maria and it tries to restructure a portion of its $70 billion public debt load.

Related coverage: https://thegoldwater.com/news/9512-Trump-Lashes-out-at-Puerto-Rico

Meanwhile, the mainland US is sending over more college students and construction workers to help rebuilding the island. Over in New York, Governor Mr Andrew Cuomo declared that the volunteer students from the State University of New York and City University of New York would earn college credits for two-week deployments.

Some 500 student volunteers will be sent over during the summer.

Source:

https://augustareview.com/puerto-rico-mayor-two-officials-accused-of-misusing-8-million/

Twitter: #Venus #PoseFX #Mondaymotivation #ProudBoys #Seth #QAnon

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Thoughts on the above story? Comment below!
5 Comment/s
Anonymous No. 31400 2018-07-16 : 09:35

The Liberals whined, screamed, moaned and griped for more $$$$ for PR. All to put $$$$ in their pockets it seems .

Tab No. 31421 2018-07-16 : 13:43

what a surprise…. this story will be covered-up by THE FAKE, LIBERAL NEWS.

Anonymous No. 31423 2018-07-16 : 14:07

What is this … did PR Lib's break out the Hillary Haiti Play book?

Anonymous No. 31434 2018-07-16 : 18:25

What? Why isnt the MSM reporting this?

JimmyBX No. 31435 2018-07-16 : 19:27

Laughable how #ReTarDumblicans can’t read. Mayor Cruz has NOT been arrested. She has been “accused” (no names given of course). The mayor caught for fraud is the mayor from Sabana Grande and his name is Miguel Ortiz. Leave it to a website for #ReTarDumblicans to lie about SAN JUAN’S mayor, because she urinated on the redneck’s choice for President (Trump)

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