Christian Torres, owner of Coccoloba AgroEnvironmental, LLC, testified Monday before federal authorities at the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) in Hato Rey, which is investigating alleged irregularities at Puerto Rico’s Administration for Socioeconomic Development of the Family (ADSEF) in awarding contracts with TANF funds, including the failed $38.5 million deal with NOLA Education. Accompanied by his lawyer Nadja Cardona Portalatín, Torres appeared as a witness for just over two hours, answered questions and delivered requested documents, though she did not specify which.
Cardona Portalatín said Coccoloba declined to participate in the competitive process that led to the NOLA Education contract and only sent Family Secretary Suzanne Roig a flyer and business profile by email, never a proposal to the designated email address. She argued the submitted material was not sufficient to evaluate the company, contrary to Roig’s position.
Coccoloba, invited by Roig by email in December 2025, was scored 24.7% by LAP Consulting Group, a firm under contract with the Department of the Family whose owner, Luis A. Pedraza González, is a friend of Roig. Litoral Vivo was the other participating company. In May, Roig canceled the NOLA Education award after multiple setbacks.
Cardona Portalatín said the agency delivered documents on Thursday of last week, that her review is not finished, and did not rule out legal action. Earlier, removed ADSEF chief Blanca Medina Díaz, who accused Roig of pressure to award contracts to NOLA Education and Strategic Technology Advisors (a proposed training platform costing over $300,000 in TANF funds), also appeared.
Roig denies the allegations. Last week, Gisela Rodríguez Algarín, former head of ADSEF’s Legal Affairs Office, also testified, saying her collaboration aims to clarify what happened and see justice done.