(CNN Spanish) –– The representative of the New Progressive Party Nelson Del Valle Colón was arrested this Thursday in Puerto Rico by FBI agents, after an investigative jury charged him with conspiracy, theft, bribery and collection of illegal commissions in programs that receive federal funds.
In a statement, the United States Department of Justice reported that, since 2017, Del Valle Colón embezzled funds through a conspiracy to enrich himself through bribes, improperly appropriating resources from the Government of Puerto Rico.
Del Valle Colón will also face charges of obstruction of justice. According to the Justice Department, upon learning of the investigation against him in July, the legislator removed relevant information from his cell phone.
CNN reached out to the legislator's attorneys for reactions to the arrest, but has not received a response so far.
The president of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico, Carlos Méndez, said: "Today (Thursday) I am requesting the immediate resignation of Representative Del Valle."
- LEE: The FBI arrests Representative María Milagro Charbonier for alleged corruption
This is the second arrest this week of a member of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives. The FBI arrested Maria Milagros Charbonier, a legislator for the New Progressive Party, on Monday, accused of bribery and receiving kickbacks. Charbonier's attorney told CNN that her client has pleaded not guilty to the charges and that she expected him to be released on bail.
Charbonier, who came to the Puerto Rico Congress in 2012, has served since 2016 as president of the Legal Commission, which includes the revision of the island's Civil and Penal Code.
Corruption FBI
