DOJ：陪审团认定Vázquez-Botet与Morell-Corrada有罪——超级引水

On November 3, 2006, the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice announced that a San Juan jury found René Vázquez-Botet and Marcos Morell-Corrada guilty of conspiracy, extortion and fraud in the public-corruption investigation of the Superaqueduct. Judge José Antonio Fusté set sentencing for January 18, 2007.

According to the release, in early 1995 the defendants extorted engineering and construction contractors who obtained Superaqueduct contracts — a ~$372 million project that included an ~50-mile west-to-east water pipeline. The indictment alleged they demanded more than $2 million in exchange for help securing and preserving those contracts.

Vázquez-Botet (51), a pediatric ophthalmologist with roles in the party that controlled the Executive, allegedly received more than $300,000 in cash between 1996 and 1999 and directed ~$80,000 in payments to third parties, while also concealing income on local tax returns. Morell-Corrada (58), general secretary of the same party until 1996, allegedly received ~$125,000 (Sept. 1997–May 1999), largely under a purported legal retainer, plus appliances, architecture fees, car rentals and a donation to a basketball team; he was also charged with concealing part of that income.

The jury convicted them on counts 1–4 (conspiracy + three Hobbs Act); Vázquez on mail/wire fraud (6–8); Morell on mail/wire fraud (9–11, 13). Acquittals: both on count 5; Morell on 12 and 14 (obstruction). The case was prosecuted by Public Integrity Section trial attorneys Mary Butler and Matthew Solomon; investigated by the FBI’s San Juan division (SAC Luis S. Fraticelli); assisted by the Office of the Comptroller. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Puerto Rico was recused. Jury conviction ≠ sentence (still pending as of Nov. 3, 2006). Cousin: 655 (Jan. 2007 sentence). Primary: DOJ 2006-11-03.

来源：U.S. Department of Justice. https://www.justice.gov/archive/opa/pr/2006/November/06_crm_751.html