One-time partner of governor’s cousins sentenced to 3 years in prison

By The Star Staff

David Vélez Hernández, a former finance director at American Management and Administration Corp. (AMAC) and partner of the jailed cousins of Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia, was sentenced late last week to three years and one month in prison in a public corruption scheme involving public housing programs.

“There are no exceptions. I see that the sentences are very similar to those of my two cousins and that officer who worked in their company,” the governor told reporters last Friday. “There are no exceptions. He who falls into corruption has to answer no matter who he is, where he comes from, who he knows. That is the case here.”

According to El Nuevo Día, Vélez Hernández was convicted after admitting his involvement in a corruption scheme that embezzled more than $3.7 million in federal funds. The former AMAC CFO illicitly benefited from $876,639 for services not rendered.

In the same case, Walter and Eduardo Pierluisi Isern, cousins of the governor, were also sentenced to prison terms and supervised release. They were implicated in the misappropriation of a considerable sum.

Vélez Hernández allegedly waived his right to be tried by a jury.