On November 21, 2025, Elsa Santiago-Colón, an employee of the Puerto Rico Department of Treasury (Departamento de Hacienda), pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States. The plea was entered at the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico before Judge Silvia Carreño-Coll.
According to court documents, Santiago-Colón conspired with others to steal over $1,000 in federal funds and accepted bribes in exchange for her actions. Between January and May 2021, she used her position as a public official with privileged access to the Internal Revenue Unified System (SURI) accounts of Puerto Rico taxpayers. Santiago-Colón accepted cash payments and other benefits, such as meals, in return for modifying and providing SURI credentials to a co-conspirator referred to as Individual A. This individual later used the information to submit fraudulent applications for the Business Interruption Grant (BIG) program, which distributed assistance from the U.S. Treasury Coronavirus Relief Fund intended for eligible small businesses. As a result of these actions, approximately $128,000 in fraudulent funds were disbursed by the Department.
U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow stated: “Together with our law enforcement partners, our office will continue to aggressively pursue corrupt individuals in the government who take advantage of the system to benefit a few in exchange for bribes. This prosecution serves as a warning to other public employees involved in these types of schemes that they will be investigated and prosecuted, and that such violations will not be tolerated.”
Santiago-Colón waived indictment and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy under Title 18 U.S.C. § 371. She faces up to five years in prison, a fine up to $250,000, and supervised release. Sentencing will be determined by a federal judge after reviewing sentencing guidelines and statutory factors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linet Olinghouse is prosecuting the case.
