Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
District of Puerto Rico
Press Release
On September 9, 2015, a Federal grand jury returned a seventy-four count
indictment charging Rocket Learning, LLC and 31 individuals with conspi-
racy to commit mail fraud, mail fraud, theft of government money and pro-
perty, and aggravated identity theft, announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vé-
lez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The Department
of Education- Office of Inspector General, the FBI and ICE-HSI are in char-
ge of the investigation. The indictment was unsealed earlier today.
The indictment alleges twenty six-counts of mail fraud, a violation of Title
18, United States Code, Section 1341, related to payments caused to be made
via the U.S. Mail to Rocket Learning, Inc., for twenty six fraudulent invoices
submitted from 2011 - 2013 to the Puerto Rico Department of Education; one
count of theft of public money, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sec-
tion 641, related to the approximately $954,297.00 in stolen Title I Federal Fun-
ds; and forty-five counts of aggravated identity theft, a violation of Title 18,
United States Code, Section 1028A(a)(1), related to the use of means of identi-
fication of another person by using the name and signature of real students, in
relation to the theft of public money charged in the indictment.
“Individuals and businesses who choose to illegally enrich themselves at the ex-
pense of our students and the U.S. taxpayer, instead of providing the educational
services invoiced, will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted by the Depart-
ment of Justice,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for
the District of Puerto Rico. “These arrests demonstrate the combined federal co-
mmitment to combating fraud, waste and abuse. The investigation continues”.
“Supplemental Education Services program funds provide critical resources for
deserving students who seek to improve their academic performance. Today’s
actions allege that these 31 individuals and the corporation they worked for, bill-
ed and retained SES payments for students who did not receive the tutoring ser-
vices. That is unacceptable,” said Yessyka Santana, Special Agent in Charge of
the U.S.Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s Southeastern Re-
gional Office. “Tracking down those who would cheat this important program is
a priority of our office.”
The defendants are:
Rocket Learning, LLC
Brenda Pérez García – SES Director
Juan Nieves Rivera Rivera –Director of San Juan Region
José Acevedo Rivera –Director of Caguas Region
Lynnette Asencio Plaza –Director of Ponce Region
Héctor Baez Villanueva –Director of Arecibo Region
Kay Pagán Rivera – Program Manager in Caguas Region
Karenie Laborde Muñiz – Program Manager in Caguas Region
Annerys Rodríguez Aponte – Program Manager in Caguas Region
Lis García Medina – Program Manager in Caguas Region
Edjeledeira Meléndez-Rivera – Jr. Program Manager in Caguas Region
Jonathan Morales Febus – Operation Coordinator in Caguas Region
Jeannette Ramírez-Zapata – Program Manager in Ponce Region
Francisco Sánchez Zayas – Program Manager in Ponce Region
Yamaris Torres Ortiz – Program Manager in Ponce Region
Sayra López Torres – Program Manager in Ponce Region
Anita Ortiz Rodríguez – Program Manager in Ponce Region
Sheila Pagán Carrasquillo – Operation Coordinator in Ponce Region
Elba Yanira Jiménez Pérez – Program Manager in Arecibo Region
Gretchen Román Soto – Program Manager in Arecibo Region
Milliam Centeno Soto – Program Manager in Arecibo Region
Emmanuel Cruz Martínez – Program Manager in Arecibo Region
Katia Tapia Torres – Program Manager in Arecibo Region
Noraima Mercado Vázquez – Program Manager in Arecibo Region
Nayra Alicea Delgado – Program Manager in San Juan Region
Eileen Gutiérrez Stone – Program Manager in San Juan Region
Glorymar Rodríguez Casiano – Program Manager in San Juan Region
Minerva Mendoza Acevedo – Program Manager in San Juan Region
Suhayl Méndez Reyes – Program Manager in San Juan Region
Javier Reyes López – Program Manager in San Juan Region
Luisa García Arriaga – Program Manager in San Juan Region
José Sánchez Bauzá – Program Manager in San Juan Region
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Seth A. Erbe
and the Chief of the Financial Fraud and Corruption Unit, José Capó-Iriarte. If
found guilty, defendants are facing a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and
two additional years for each aggravated identity theft count. Indictments contain
only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be inno-
cent unless and until proven guilty.
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