Former Puerto Rico Senators and Businessman Sentenced for Bribery Scheme
The Justice Department announced on March 1, 2012 that Hector Martinez Maldonado, a former Puerto Rico Senator, and Juan Bravo Fernandez, the former president of the largest private security firm in Puerto Rico, were each sentenced to 48 months in prison for their roles in a bribery scheme involving the passage of legislation beneficial to Bravo Fernandez’s business. Bravo Fernandez and Martinez Maldanado were also ordered to pay fines of $175,000 and $17,500, respectively. Additionally, Jorge De Castro Font, also a former Puerto Rico Senator, was also bribed by Fernandez, and was sentenced on May 17, 2011 to 60 months in prison on twenty counts of honest services wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit extortion.
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Martinez Maldonado and De Castro Font had Control over the Fate of Favorable Legislation for Bravo Fernadez's Business
During his term as Senator, Martinez Maldonado served as chair of the Public Safety Committee, exercising significant control over legislation related to community safety and the private security industry. De Castro Font served as chair of the Committee on Rules and Calendars, exercising significant control over which bills, confirmations and other matters were brought to a vote on the floor of the Senate and when they were brought to a vote. Specifically, Martinez Maldonado’s committee had jurisdiction over Bravo Fernandez’s two bills and was required to approve the legislation before De Castro Font could schedule them for a vote before the entire Senate.
Bribed with Trip to Las Vegas, Boxing Tickets, Cash
In order to secure passage of the two bills, Bravo Fernandez, Martinez Maldonado and De Castro Font agreed that Martinez Maldonado and De Castro Font would take official acts supporting the legislation benefiting Bravo Fernandez’s business interests in exchange for things of value provided by Bravo Fernandez. Evidence at trial established that Bravo Fernandez agreed to provide Martinez Maldonado and De Castro Font with a trip to Las Vegas to watch the May 14, 2005 championship boxing match between Winky Wright and Felix “Tito” Trinidad, a popular Puerto Rican boxer. As part of this agreement, Bravo Fernandez provided, among other things, first-class airfare, hotel rooms at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, tickets to the Trinidad vs. Wright boxing match worth $1,000, hotel rooms in Miami for the return trip, as well as meals and drinks. In addition, from 2004 to 2008, Bravo Fernandez provided numerous cash payments to De Castro Font that were concealed in an envelope and provided through personal assistants.
"Payments" Made by Bravo Fernandez in Close Proximity to his Bill's Submission and Hearing
Evidence at trial established that on March 2, 2005, the day Bravo Fernandez paid for the boxing tickets, Martinez Maldonado submitted one of the bills for consideration by the Puerto Rico Senate. Also, on April 21, 2005, Bravo Fernandez used his personal credit card to reserve a hotel room at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. The deposit for this hotel room was credited to Martinez Maldonado’s hotel room. The reservation was made the day after Martinez Maldonado presided over a Public Safety Committee hearing for one of the two bills at which Bravo Fernandez was the only representative from the private security industry to testify. Immediately after the hearing, Martinez Maldonado authorized a committee report in support of Bravo Fernandez’s bill.
Bill Voted, Approved out of Committee and Passed Within a Week of 3 Men's Return from Las Vegas
On May 17, 2005, the day after the three men returned from their trip to Las Vegas, Martinez Maldonado and De Castro Font both cast their vote in support of one of Bravo Fernandez’s bills in front of the full Puerto Rico Senate. On May 18, 2005, the other bill was approved out of the Public Safety Committee, chaired by Martinez Maldonado. That bill was passed by the Puerto Rico Senate on May 23, 2005.