Judge Lisa M. Durán Ortiz of the San Juan court found probable cause for arrest against three people for their alleged part in a bank fraud scheme that cost the company Gema Recycling Services, Inc. $13,043.35, Puerto Rico Police reported. The defendants are Yamil J. Santiago González, Julián L. Vázquez Fuentes and Edwin A. Llanos Rosa.
The judge set bail at $33,000 and issued an arrest warrant against Llanos Rosa. According to the Bank Robbery Investigations Division of the Police’s Assistant Superintendency for Criminal Investigations (SAIC), the probe began after several complaints from the company, which reported the forgery of several checks drawn on its FirstBank business account. The events allegedly took place between February and April 2024.
Authorities alleged that several of the allegedly forged checks were deposited through mobile banking into personal Oriental Bank accounts in the names of Santiago González and Vázquez Fuentes. The investigation also identified Llanos Rosa, who allegedly cashed two checks in person at different bank branches in the metropolitan area. Prosecutor Josué Padilla Costoso of the Justice Department’s Economic Crimes Division filed charges under articles 202(b), on fraud; 182, on illegal appropriation; and 217, on possession and transfer of false documents, of the Puerto Rico Penal Code.
The preliminary hearing is set for November 4 in courtroom 605 of the San Juan court.