Former Puerto Rico Mayor Guilty

Former Puerto Rico Mayor Eduard Rivera-Correa

News Americas, SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Sat. Oct. 25, 2014: The former mayor of the municipality of Río Grande, Puerto Rico, pleaded guilty Friday to soliciting and receiving cash bribes.

Eduard Rivera-Correa, 61, admitted to taking approximately $39,000 in cash bribes from a contractor who sought to be awarded three construction inspection contracts with the municipality of Río Grande.

According to his plea agreement, Rivera-Correa, while mayor of Río Grande in early 2010, requested that a contractor make regular kickback payments in exchange for the award of three construction inspection contracts worth a total of $329,000.  After the contracts were awarded and while payments were being disbursed by the municipality, the contractor delivered envelopes containing approximately $39,000 in cash to Rivera-Correa’s office and placed them in his drawer.

Rivera-Correa pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marcos E. López to one count of bribery.  Rivera-Correa was arrested on July 10, 2014, after being indicted by a federal grand jury.  His sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.

In his plea agreement, Rivera-Correa admitted to obstructing justice by threatening the contractor who paid him bribes.  On or about April 16, 2012, in a recorded conversation, Rivera-Correa threatened the contractor in an effort to intimidate him and dissuade him from cooperating with law enforcement.