Federal authorities have made an unknown number of arrests in connection with fraud under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. Details about the arrests will be provided by US attorney Stephen Muldrow today at a press conference shortly before noon.
The arrests were made this morning, according to an appeal to the press by the federal prosecutor. Representatives from the Postal Service, Social Security, Federal Labor Service, Social Security, Public Safety, Puerto Rico Department of Labor, Puerto Rico Department of the Treasury, and the Island’s Inspector General will also attend the conference.
A few days ago, the federal prosecutor’s office released a press release on the first cases filed on the island for fraud against the PUA. Those were the postman José Daniel Le Hardy Figueroa, who had been arrested since August 31, 2020 for alleged cocaine and heroin trafficking, and Christoffer Pérez Vélez.
Last month, District Attorney Muldrow had issued a press release that they were investigating possible federal emergency aid fraud on the island. “We remain vigilant with our law enforcement partners to investigate and bring to justice those who exploit the current public health crisis. asked for personal information or banking information, while promising money or services that seem too good to be true, ” said the head of the federal prosecutor’s office in Puerto Rico at the time.
State cases have been filed in Puerto Rico for PUA fraud. Last February, the inspector general’s office in Puerto Rico gave way to the first complaints from officials requesting and receiving PUA benefits.
Currently, following the approval of a third package of measures to alleviate the pandemic crisis, people in Puerto Rico can continue to ask for help from the PUA until September this year.
A month ago, the Labor Department in Puerto Rico handled a few 5,267 new PUA claims.