Puerto Rico's Department of Justice Economic Crimes Division filed charges against a bank employee accused of illegally accessing an elderly customer's account and stealing more than $29,000. The suspect, Gadiel J. Rosado Alvarado, 38, allegedly used his access as a financial institution employee between September 2024 and June 2025 to withdraw funds from the 71-year-old client's account and make payments to his own credit card. An internal bank investigation uncovered the scheme, which was referred to the Division of Bank, Financial and Cooperative Institution Theft and Fraud Investigations; agent Kariana Lasalde completed the probe, determining the fraud totaled $29,806.
Since the transactions were unauthorized, the bank had to reimburse the full amount to the victim, absorbing the loss. Prosecutor María Teresa Carro Lahongrais, of the Economic Crimes Division, filed three charges against Rosado Alvarado: fraud, abuse of an elderly person, and aggravated illegal appropriation. Judge Rafael Pares Quiñones of the Bayamón Court of First Instance found cause for arrest and set bail at $30,000; the defendant remains free under electronic monitoring. Justice Secretary Lourdes L.
Gómez Torres said elderly people have the right to manage their finances securely without fear of exploitation. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 17.