Federal grand jury indicts 26 people, companies for defrauding Puerto Rico Treasury Dept over $3.5M

A federal grand jury indicted 26 people and companies for allegedly defrauding the Puerto Rico Treasury Department of more than $3.5 million.

Two public officials, 10 individuals, and 14 companies were indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico on Oct. 23 for their alleged roles in a wire fraud and bribery conspiracy, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Puerto Rico on Wednesday.

From November 2021 through April 2025, two Puerto Rico Treasury Department officials, Javier Relta-Lebrón and Harry E. Muriel-Falero, were allegedly paid to submit false tax records to the department to eliminate and reduce tax debts for various co-defendants, totaling more than $3.5 million in lost tax revenue, according to court documents. 

If the defendants charged with wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy are convicted, then they will face up to 20 years in prison.

“Public corruption, at every level of government, causes a substantial and incalculable harm to the public. The Justice Department will continue to aggressively enforce federal fraud and corruption laws,” U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow said in a statement.

“I commend the excellent work of the FBI and the prosecutors in our office, and thank the Secretary of Hacienda for his collaboration in this investigation, which remains ongoing. For those other persons who participated in this scheme -- or other similar schemes -- now is the time to come forward. It is always better to reach out to the FBI early, rather than wait for them to knock on your door.”