Puerto Rico Governor Charged in Probe

03/27/2008

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - A law enforcement official says Puerto Rico's governor has been charged in a long-running public corruption probe in the U.S. island territory.

A law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Thursday that Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila is among several people named in a sealed indictment.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the indictment is still sealed.

An FBI spokesman in San Juan declined to comment, saying there would be a news conference later to discuss the first arrests in the probe.

A government official in San Juan also said Acevedo would be charged in the indictment and that the governor's attorneys were expected to appear in court later Thursday.

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Associated Press Writer Lara Jakes Jordan in Washington contributed to this report.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - U.S. authorities have made the first arrests in a long-running probe into the finances of the party of Puerto Rican Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila.

Reports say at least four officials from the Popular Democratic Party were led in handcuffs into the U.S. federal building in San Juan early Thursday.

An FBI spokesman declined to comment, saying there would be a news conference later.

Acevedo has said he was a focus of the grand jury probe but he was not among those seen in custody. A spokeswoman says he was still home sleeping as far as she knew.