Men Sentenced for Destroying Protected Wetlands in Puerto Rico
An update on a case we covered previously on FedAgent.
Two men were sentenced for their roles in trying to turn a portion of federally protected wetlands in Puerto Rico into a resort.
51-year-old Rafael Carballo-Diaz, the mastermind of the scheme, was sentenced to one year in prison, one year of supervised release, and a $4,000 fine.
The former manager of the property, Nathaniel Hernandez-Claudio, was sentenced to probation.
Both men pleaded guilty in July to violating the Clean Water Act.
According to court documents, Carballo-Diaz destroyed, removed, and filled mangrove wetland areas within and around the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (JBNERR) in Las Mareas, Puerto Rico.
Prosecutors say Carballo-Diaz did not have permits, but nevertheless filled in the area, gated it, and placed at least six mobile homes and a pool on the property, dubbing it “Cacique Resort.”
One of the units was rented as a short-term vacation property.
Mangrove wetlands are critical to local infrastructure, economics and ecosystems, as they can limit damage from flooding and storms, reduce pollution, and provide habitat for numerous species.
The Jobos Bay Reserve is also home to several endangered species including the brown pelican, peregrine falcon, hawksbill turtle, and West Indian manatee.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division (EPA CID) and the FBI investigated the case, with support from the Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Environmental Crimes Task Force.