The Puerto Rico power company (PREPA) disbursed $1.1 billion to the company Cobra Acquisitions, LLC, before the corporation canceled the contracts in March 2019, when it became aware of possible irregularities that involved the efforts carried out as part of the recovery process after the passage of Hurricane Maria, confirmed the executive director José Ortiz.
“The contracts with Cobra amounted to $1.9 billion, and $1.1 billion was disbursed as of March 31 of this year. The difference is due to unused amounts and billing disputes,” Ortiz said in written statements.
Ahsha Nateef Tribble, administrator of FEMA region II – in New York – and assigned to the emergency in Puerto Rico after the impact of hurricanes Irma and Maria, was arrested this morning in Florida after being accused by a federal grand jury for alleged disaster fund fraud. The accusation is connected to the contracts granted by PREPA to the company Cobra Acquisitions, LLC.
Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also arrested Donald Keith Ellison, former president of the company that was to work on the repair of the island’s electrical system. Both Ellison and Tribble also face charges of conspiracy to bribe public officials, commit acts that affect a personal financial interest, false statements, electronic fraud of honest services and violations of the Travel Act, detailed the head of federal prosecutor Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez during a press conference.
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