Ex-Puerto Rico police officer sentenced in corruption case

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A former Puerto Rico police officer was sentenced Tuesday to four years in prison after being found guilty on charges including conspiracy to commit robbery and theft and conversion of government property, one of three ex-policemen charged in the case.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Carlos Boyrie-Laboy had conspired with a former police sergeant and a fellow ex-officer to break into homes in towns such as Naguabo and Yabucoa to steal items including fireworks, electronic equipment and thousands of dollars in cash.

Authorities noted that the homes belonged to people who allegedly sold illegal fireworks and electronic equipment.

The former police sergeant, Miguel Conde-Vellón, and fellow ex-officer, Luis Rodríguez-García, pleaded guilty last April and each was sentenced in August to two years in prison.

Boyrie-Laboy was convicted in December of all six charges he faced following a one-week jury trial.