PRESS RELEASE
INDICTMENT/ARREST WARRANT

Humberto Garcia, United States Attorney, District of Puerto Rico; Luis S. Fraticelli, Special Agent in Charge (SAC), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, Aaron Collins, SAC, Office Inspector General (OIG), Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the indictment of Luis A. Rodriguez Rivera on charges for conspiracy to demand and accept bribe payments with the intent to be influenced in performance of official act.

From on or about August 9, 2000, through on or about September 12, 2003, in the District of Puerto Rico the defendant Luis A. Rodriguez Rivera, unlawfully use his position as Assistant Director of the United States (US) of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to obtain monies for his personal benefit from a contractor did business with contracting agencies through the SBA 8(A) Business Development Program. All in violation of Title 18, United States Code (USC), Sections 371 and Section 201 (b)(2)(A).

Since August 9, 2000, Luis A. Rodriguez Rivera while being a public official, directly and indirectly did corruptly demand, seek, receive, accept and agree, to receive and accept, from business owners that had contracts with contracting agencies through the SBA's 8(A) Business Development Program, something of value, that is, in excess of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) in cash in return for and with the intent to be influenced in performance of an official act.

On September 28, 2005, a Federal Grand Jury (FGJ) in the District of Puerto Rico indicted Luis A. Rodriguez Rivera for conspiracy to demand and accept bribe payments with the intent to be influenced in performance of official act, Title 18 USC, Sections 371 and 201 (b)(2)(A).

The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial and the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney AUSA Marcos E. Lopez .