Governor of Puerto Rico charged in corruption scandal
WASHINGTON (AFP) — Anibal Acevedo Vila, Democratic governor of Puerto Rico since 2005, was charged with corruption linked to campaign financing and faces prison time if convicted, US authorities said Thursday.
Acevedo Vila, 48, was charged with conspiracy, false statements and violations of various campaign finance laws, according to a grand jury indictment issued Monday and unsealed Thursday.
Twelve associates face similar charges.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation said the defendants conspired to defraud the government "by having Puerto Rico businessmen make illegal and unreported contributions to pay off large and unreported debts" from Acevedo Vila's campaigns.
"Acevedo Vila and legal advisor, defendant Inclan Bird, solicited, accepted, and then reimbursed illegal conduit contributions from Acevedo Vila's family members and staff," the FBI said in a statement.
Conduit contributions are illegal campaign contributions made by one person in the name of another.
If convicted, the governor faces more than 10 years in prison and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.
