Resident commissioner calls for probe into ‘drugs for votes’ scheme in prisons.

Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera

By THE STAR STAFF

Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera has urged congressional leaders to investigate allegations of a “drugs for votes” scheme within the island’s prison system, following a report that federal prosecutors had gathered evidence of widespread voter coercion tied to the 2024 elections.

In a statement Tuesday, Hernández said the findings described in a ProPublica news report raise serious concerns about election integrity and public corruption, calling them “facts that no elected official in Puerto Rico or Washington can ignore.” He confirmed that discussions with members of Congress are already underway to determine how best to pursue a formal investigation into the matter.

According to the report, the alleged scheme originated in Puerto Rico’s correctional institutions and initially appeared to be a routine drug-trafficking operation. Narcotics agents tracking a prison gang known as Los Tiburones -- Spanish for “The Sharks” -- uncovered a system in which drugs were smuggled into prisons, distributed among inmates, and financed through illicit transactions.

However, investigators soon discovered a more troubling dimension: gang leaders allegedly exchanged drugs for votes, specifically directing inmates to support then-gubernatorial candidate Jenniffer González Colón. To enforce compliance, inmates were threatened with violence or denied access to drugs if they did not follow directives, investigators found.

The scheme reportedly involved cooperation from some corrections employees, who allowed the gang to operate with minimal interference and enforce its own system of discipline within prison facilities. Because Puerto Rico allows incarcerated individuals to vote in local elections, such activities carry significant legal consequences; offering anything of value in exchange for votes constitutes a felony punishable by fines and imprisonment.

Federal investigators had compiled evidence implicating both inmates and prison staff and were reportedly exploring whether any connection existed to González Colón or her campaign. But just as prosecutors were preparing to bring charges in November 2024, days after the general election, they were instructed by supervisors to exclude all vote-related charges and drop potential cases against prison staff, according to individuals familiar with the case.

An indictment filed in December ultimately charged 34 individuals with drug-related crimes, money laundering, and weapons offenses. While it described the alleged vote-buying scheme, it did not include any formal charges related to election fraud.

Shortly after the presidential transition in early 2025, the lead prosecutor was reportedly instructed to halt further investigation entirely. Those involved in the case described frustration at the abrupt shift.

“Before the election, it was definitely full steam ahead,” one individual said. “After the election, that all changed.”

The decision to scale back the investigation has raised questions among observers about whether political considerations influenced federal prosecutorial discretion. Supporters of that view point to the timing of the directive and the broader political alignment between González Colón and President Donald Trump, who publicly praised her election victory. Both are Republicans.

Federal officials have denied any improper interference. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico stated that it does not comment on open investigations and emphasized that pursuing public corruption remains a priority when sufficient evidence exists. A spokesperson for the Department of Justice also said senior leadership had no involvement in charging decisions in the case.

González Colón has not been charged with any crime and has not publicly addressed the allegations. Her office did not respond to requests for comment, according to the report.

Additional accounts from within the prison system suggest that voter coercion may have extended beyond the specific criminal case. Puerto Rico’s Civil Rights Commission reported difficulties accessing polling locations inside prisons during the 2024 election and raised concerns about voting conditions, including lack of privacy and possible interference.

Some inmates reportedly submitted complaints describing pressure to vote for specific candidates, though they did not identify gangs directly. Investigators also cited evidence that gang leaders monitored compliance by requiring inmates to show their completed ballots.

In the tightly contested 2024 New Progressive Party gubernatorial primary, inmate votes were seen as especially influential, with González Colón prevailing by a relatively narrow margin over then-incumbent governor Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia. Reacting to the report later on Tuesday, González Colón asserted that “the correctional population voted overwhelmingly against me and in favor of former Governor Pedro Pierluisi” in that election.