NPP insider faces fraud, theft case

The suspect, Gustavo Malavé, allegedly stole money paid by more than two dozen clients when he worked as a salesman for the Federation of Farmers Association, which is focused on feed sales to ranchers and dairy farmers.

The seven counts against him stem from his work at the Mayagüez-based business in 2006 and 2007. The island Justice Department said Malavé altered business documents to cover his tracks.

Malavé, 55, served as secretary of the NPP municipal committee in Mayagüez until tendering his resignation last week. He serves as an advance man for the re-election campaign of Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, and worked in the lawmaker’s field office.

Malavé faces seven counts including fraud, money laundering, aggravated theft and falsification of documents. He faces up to nine years in prison of convicted, but could qualify for probation.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 31.