SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The FBI arrested a radio producer on Wednesday for allegedly trying to extort money from a government official to release private messages that would “burn down Puerto Rico” – a statement from an encrypted messaging app that Gov later dropped Ricardo Rosselló.
Sixto Jorge Díaz Colón, 52, who once worked for the Spanish broadcasting system, is facing federal charges, including attempted extortion and the destruction, alteration or falsification of records in a federal investigation, according to a charge from the grand jury.
According to the indictment, a former subcontractor contacted Díaz in February 2019, saying he had sent a copy of the messages sent via the Telegram app that allegedly contained accusatory information about Rosselló, his closest associates and members of his party.
Four months later, authorities claim, Díaz sent a Telegram message to the island’s secretary of public affairs, saying that if the Rosselló government ‘does not stop with a family member of a former senior official,’ the subcontractor has ‘overwhelming evidence’ that the administration, starting with the governor.
According to the authorities, Díaz then contacted the Minister of Public Affairs to request a meeting, during which he asked for help in obtaining government contracts that would compensate him.
“Public corruption has many faces,” said Rafael Riviere, special agent charged with the FBI’s office in San Juan. ‘Sometimes … criminals try to exploit the weaknesses of those in public office. It is also a form of public corruption and like any other form of corruption, it will not be tolerated. ”
While the indictment does not identify the secretary of public affairs by name, Anthony Maceira was in that position at the time.
Joannie Plaza-Martínez, a public defender assigned to Díaz’s case, did not immediately return a message for comment. Maceira did not respond to a request for comment.
The names of the family member and subcontractor were not disclosed.
Weeks after the meeting, local media released hundreds of pages of the private, bad Telegram messages in which Rosselló and other high-ranking women were insulted and elected with voters, including the victims of Hurricane María. The revelation led to major protests that paralyzed Puerto Rico and eventually led to Rosselló having to resign.
During the time, according to officials, Díaz tried to extort money from the Secretary of State to prevent the release of additional Telegram messages, saying the subcontractor intended to ‘burn down Puerto Rico’ unless he received about $ 300,000 via Díaz. Authorities allege Díaz also asked for additional money to pay others who would work for Rosselló and the restoration of government contracts that would benefit him.
The indictment states that although the Minister of Public Affairs sent a Telegram message saying that they were working on the case, no money was paid or contracts awarded.
FBI spokeswoman Limary Cruz said Díaz was arrested at his home on Wednesday.
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