The Office of the Independent Special Prosecutor Panel (Opfei) has named special independent prosecutor Arcelio Maldonado Avilés as a delegate prosecutor to reinforce the ongoing investigation into former Secretary of the Governor’s Office Francisco Domenech and former OGPe assistant secretary Norberto Almodóvar. The probe also involves former Governor’s Office undersecretary Itza García and former OGPe chief of staff Charlene Neuman Rivera.
Opfei president Ygrí Rivera said the addition was made due to the volume of material and number of people involved, noting the case "could continue normally or could become even more complicated" and that the prosecutors already have too much work. The investigation is led by special prosecutor Fabiola Acarón Porrata-Doria, alongside delegate prosecutor Ileana Agudo Calderón.
It originated from a referral to the Department of Justice by former Economic Development and Commerce Department (DDEC) secretary Sebastián Negrón Reichard after an internal DDEC probe found alleged irregularities in a competitive process for a federally funded advertising contract. OGPe falls under DDEC. Domenech and García are accused of interfering with bids and tax-decree evaluations at DDEC and advocating for contracts benefiting New Progressive Party (PNP) members. Opfei’s resolution, adopted September 8, calls the case "extremely broad and complex."