On October 15, 2017 OpsLens published a report regarding several allegations claiming local politicians in at least five Puerto Rico municipalities were misappropriating FEMA-supplied goods for select special interests. FBI agents in the San Juan field office were joined by additional agents from the mainland to look into the complaints.
This allegation countered the tension-filled rants being spewed that the federal government and President Trump are not doing enough for Puerto Rico and are not as dedicated to reinvigorating the hurricane-hit island or its citizens.
The five alleged municipalities and their respective leadership being investigated by the FBI are Patillas, San Juan, Arecibo, Aguadilla and Vieques Island.
FBI agents investigating one of the five municipalities in question –Padillas– discovered Dumpsters and other areas in which water and food was seemingly discarded.
Today, FBI agents investigating one of the five municipalities in question –Padillas– discovered Dumpsters and other areas in which water and food was seemingly discarded.
FEMA-distributed goods were found in Dumpster in Patillas, a municipality whose politicians are alleged to have misappropriated goods for self- and special-interests. (Courtesy: PRInforma)
PRInforma, Puerto Rico’s citizen-driven news network, published the findings and pictures illustrating cartons of unopened and opened products, some of which PRInforma described as covered with rats. Given the presence of rodents on or near food items, health/safety protocol calls for the merchandise to be destroyed.
FBI agents reportedly found FEMA-supplied goods abandoned in parking areas with rodent activity. (Courtesy: PRInforma)
FEMA and Alcaldes
The general FEMA plan for maritime shipping, offloading, and transporting to municipalities was to hand distribution responsibilities to local alcaldes (mayors) for disbursement. These mayors were to be the vanguards of products brought in by envoys. As thousands of military and FEMA personnel facilitate the larger logistical aid, local politicians entrusted to get food, water and general items to citizens have come under scrutiny since various people in Puerto Rico have alleged those same leaders are hijacking federal aid for themselves and favored constituents.
As FBI agents sleuth the five municipalities and sift through jurisdictions, evidence of misappropriations and improprieties can result in harsh penalties.
Reading the PRInforma article pertaining to alleged waste of federal aid at a time of utter necessity, quite a number of folks remain cynical and conspiratorial. Various comments are in the realm of conspiracy theory, positing that FEMA agents dumped the goods to make Puerto Rico look bad. Still others wage President Trump orchestrated the entire scene to make local politicians look bad, namely San Juan Mayor Carmen Cruz.
