Fernando Tonos returns to the Capitol as Javier Aponte Dalmau’s legislative adviser

Former representative Fernando Tonos, convicted of corruption in 1995 After running a phantom employee scheme in your legislative office, you will advise the majority spokesperson on Senate, Javier Aponte Dalmau.

Tones was the first Puerto Rican lawmaker to go to jail, after pleading guilty to 343 serious charges, for which he received a sentence of 17 years in prison. He served only one year in prison and the rest on probation. He also had to repay $ 206,536.

Aponte Dalmau himself confirmed the recruitment of Tonos in his office at the rate of $ 6,000 per month as an advisor in legislative processes. The hiring comes after several corruption schemes on Capitol Hill known as “recoil” and at least two phantom employee schemes have taken place over the past four years.

“Well, look, he turned many years ago. He has been a consultant in various companies and works. In my opinion, I think he is a person who has committed a crime, who failed at that time, but has the opportunity to claim. He is a person with a lot of legislative experience “, said Aponte Dalmau The new day.

When asked if Tonos’ recruitment somehow sent the wrong message to the country about how a person convicted of corruption is rewarded at the government level, Aponte Dalmau replied that Tonos has the right to earn a living.

“At one point, the state failed, but he is a person who has a lot to contribute,” said Aponte Dalmau, who will also have former representative Charlie Hernandez as a legislative adviser at a rate of $ 5,000 per month. That contract will be charged to the budget of the Rules and Calendar Committee, while Tonos’ salary will be charged to the budget of the Aponte Dalmau legislative office.

Aponte Dalmau recalled that his father, the late mayor of Carolina, José Aponte de la Torre, offered Tonos his first work experience after he was released from prison when the mayor hired a company he worked for.

“After that, I had a personal relationship with him, but none of them work. In this process of the campaign he helped me in coordinationSaid Aponte Dalmau.

React Tones

In an interview with The new day, Tonos assured that he could have returned to the Chapter much earlier, but he does it to advise Aponte Dalmau due to the connection that his family has.

“I have known Javier for many years and his father. I was able to work with him because my office is in Carolina. There is an emotion when you accept after so many years to come back here and it is that there is a purpose: I helped Javier in the campaign as representatives and I didn’t work with him because at that moment I understood that he can go on. I worked with him on the campaign because he asked me to, but it is also a commitment to his father, who before he died told me to always keep an eye on JavierTonos said.

“I owe a thank you to him and his family,” he added.

Tonos, who chaired the youth housing and business committees, said he understands that he enjoys the “love” of citizens and has shown commitment to the residents of the Carolina Senate district.

He mentioned that his message to the citizens is to consider the reason why he is returning to the Legislature.

“After 25 years since I went through that process that I went through and that I categorize as unfair and without going into the background, what is important is that I return here. It is to bring my knowledge, giving me everything and what I have been doing since I left the legislature, “he said, arguing that he has evidence that helps people in need, especially after Hurricanes Irma and María.

“People know where I’ve been and what I’ve done, what my job and mission are,” he said. “I want to help the senator and the country … no matter what situation I went through, I am a person that people know,” he said.