The Department of Housing confirmed that former Director of the Office of Permit Management (OGPE), Norberto Almodóvar Vélez, joined the agency on Monday, despite being under investigation by the Independent Special Prosecutor's Office (FEI) for alleged improper actions during a competitive process for contracting professional services. The Department defended the decision to hire Almodóvar, stating that his administrative functions will not involve federal funds, auctions, or employee supervision.
Almodóvar was referred to the FEI on June 15 by former Secretary of Economic Development and Commerce, Sebastián Negrón Reichard, along with Charlene Neuman. Negrón Reichard had asked the FEI to expand the investigation to include Secretary of the Governor's Office, Francisco Domenech, alleging that Domenech pressured him to award a contract to JJ Investment and intervened in favor of tax decrees for the Opus Miramar project, which is linked to Domenech's former lobbying firm, Politank.
Almodóvar had resigned from OGPE after Negrón Reichard asked him to step down amid controversy over a subcontracting process.