MADE HER ASSISTANT KICK BACK BETWEEN $1000 TO $1500 PER PAYCHECK
In mid-January, a Puerto Rico legislator and her husband were convicted of having engaged in a “years-long theft, bribery and kickback conspiracy,” which involved fraudulently inflating her assistant’s salary so that the legislator could receive a portion of those purported wages.
Apparently, the salary went from $800 to $2900, with the assistant kicking back about $1000 and $1500 per paycheck.
After learning of an investigation and a warrant for her cell phone, the politician allegedly scrubbed all pertinent information from that device.
After a jury trial, the politician and her spouse were found guilty of “one count of conspiracy; two counts of theft, bribery, and kickbacks concerning programs receiving federal funds; six counts of honest services wire fraud; and two counts of money laundering.” She was also convicted of obstruction of justice for destroying data on her mobile.
Scheduled for sentencing on April 10, the husband-and-wife team face up to 5 years in prison on the conspiracy count; up to 10 years on each “federal funds theft, bribery, and kickbacks count;” up to 20 years on each “honest services wire fraud count;” up to 20 years on each “money laundering count.” The wife also faces up to 20 years on the “obstruction of justice count.”
Looks like they’re going to get their asses kicked there ….
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