BREAKING: FEMA official arrested on bribery, fraud charges surrounding Puerto Rico hurricane
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A former Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) official was reportedly arrested on Tuesday, charged with taking bribes from a company responsible for restoring power in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.
Federal officials arrested former Deputy Administrator Ahsha Tribble, who oversaw the FEMA region including Puerto Rico, and the former President of Cobra Acquisitions Donald Keith Ellison, accusing them of conspiring to defraud the federal government, according to media reports.
The article goes on to state the following:
“They took advantage of one of the most vulnerable moments in the history of Puerto Rico to enrich themselves,” the U.S. Attorney for Puerto Rico, Rosa Emilia Rodríguez Vélez, told The New York Times.
Ellison would allegedly reward Tribble with gifts such as a helicopter tour over Puerto Rico, plane tickets and hotel stays. In exchange, the FEMA official would advocate to Cobra’s advantage during the recovery efforts.
Ahsha Tribble, the FEMA administrator in charge of power restoration in Puerto Rico, was arrested today along with the CEO of Cobra energy.
— Frances Robles (@FrancesRobles) September 10, 2019
President Trump has long maintained there is corruption in Puerto Rico. CBS reporter David Begnaud, who has covered other corruption stories surrounding Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, tweeted the following additional details:
Federal Govt Scandal in Puerto Rico: Top FEMA official in charge of restoring Puerto Rico’s power after Hurricane Maria has been arrested along with a fmr energy company CEO who’s accused of showering that official with gifts to win contracts. (details below from U.S Attorney)
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) September 10, 2019
“…the Recovery Office Deputy Director – Infrastructure Directorate/Disaster Recovery Manager in the Office of the FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer.
2. Donald Keith Ellison – President of Cobra Acquisitions, LLC until June 2019;
3. Jovanda R. Patterson, a.k.a. “Jo/Jojo,”…”
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) September 10, 2019
“Cobra was the main contractor for the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority as to recovery work performed following Hurricane María. PREPA executed 2 contracts with COBRA with a total contract value of approximately $1,845,429,800.00… “
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) September 10, 2019
“…Tribble’s performance of official acts. Ellison provided Tribble with personal helicopter use, hotel accommodations, airfare, personal security services, and the use of a credit card.”
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) September 10, 2019
“In exchange, Tribble performed official acts, including influencing, advising, and exerting pressure on PREPA and FEMA officials, in order to award restoration work to COBRA and accelerate payments to COBRA.”
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) September 10, 2019
CEO Ellison allegedly lied to federal investigators. “On March 15, 2019, Ellison stated to FBI and DHS OIG agents as a part of a voluntary interview, that he had no personal relationship with Tribble and was only around her in relation to business…”
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) September 10, 2019
“…He also stated that he had not taken a helicopter trip with Tribble on or about February 7, 2018. Ellison knew both statements were false.”
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) September 10, 2019
A former top FEMA administrator was arrested on Tuesday in a corruption investigation that found that she took bribes from the president of a company that secured $1.8 billion in contracts to repair Puerto Rico’s electrical grid after Hurricane Maria https://t.co/iZHTFtzfyC
— Patricia Mazzei (@PatriciaMazzei) September 10, 2019
Federal authorities in #PuertoRico have just announced the arrest of two @fema officials, Ahsha Tribble & Jovanda Patterson (the latter resigned last year), & Cobra’s former President Donald Keith Ellison for conspiracy & fraud in connection with #HurricaneMaria. #fema
— Michael Deibert (@michaelcdeibert) September 10, 2019
JUST IN: Ex-FEMA official charged with taking bribes from company restoring power in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria https://t.co/3e8epMu8jr pic.twitter.com/ZGVBehGtWY
— The Hill (@thehill) September 10, 2019
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