28 Individuals Sentenced in Major Fraud Case Involving Over $28 Billion at Carabineros El Ciudadano

Original article: Malversación de caudales públicos y lavado de activos: Los 28 condenados Caso Fraude en Carabineros por más de 28 mil millones

Major Fraud at Carabineros: Court Sentences Involved Parties for Embezzlement Exceeding $28 Billion

According to a report by PoderJudicial.cl, the court delivered a guilty verdict against those responsible for crimes including embezzlement of public funds, malicious use of a false public instrument, misappropriation of public funds, theft, and money laundering within the Chilean Carabineros.

The Fourth Oral Criminal Court in Santiago issued a guilty verdict today—Friday, April 10—against those involved in embezzlement, malicious use of false public instruments, misappropriation, theft, and money laundering related to Carabineros de Chile.

In an unanimous decision (case number 182-2020), the court—comprised of judges Geni Morales (president), Juan Carlos Urrutia (reporter), and María Elisa Tapia—convicted Pedro Valenzuela San Martín, Robinson Carvajal Leiva, Héctor Nail Bravo, Carlos Cárcamo Bravo, Patricio Miranda Rojas, Patricio Rojas Soto, Carlos Rojas Muñoz, Juan Maldonado Gutiérrez, Randy Maldonado Gutiérrez, Fernando Pérez Barría, Pamela Castillo Herrera, Jaime Paz Meneses, José Inapaimilla Vergara, Luis Vilches Morales, Sergio Bracamonte Villalobos, Francisco Estrada Castro, Flavio Echeverría Cortes, Arnoldo Rivero Gerdes, Nelson Valenzuela Aravena, Diego Valdés Bustamante, and Eduardo Pardo Muñoz for the repeated crime of embezzlement.

Furthermore, the court condemned David Vega Carmona, Felipe Avila Pérez, Renato Sarabia Lagreze, and Francisco Reyes Momberg under Article 15 No. 3 of the Penal Code for colluding to carry out this common act of misappropriation by facilitating the means to execute it, thereby aiding the diversion of public funds.

The ruling also convicted Fernando Bustos Ríos, Boris Valenzuela Calderón, and María Virginia Rojas Torres as repeat offenders of theft.

Lastly, those guilty of money laundering include Pedro Valenzuela San Martín, Robinson Carvajal Leiva, Héctor Nail Bravo, Carlos Cárcamo Bravo, Carlos Rojas Muñoz, Juan Maldonado Gutiérrez, Randy Maldonado Gutiérrez, Fernando Pérez Barría, Jaime Paz Meneses, José Inapaimilla Vergara, Luis Vilches Morales, Sergio Bracamonte Villalobos, Francisco Estrada Castro, Flavio Echeverría Cortez, Arnoldo Rivero Gerdes, Nelson Valenzuela Aravena, Diego Valdés Bustamante, Eduardo Pardo Muñoz, David Vega Carmona, Felipe Avila Pérez, Renato Sarabia Lagreze, and Francisco Reyes Momberg.

As highlighted by PoderJudicial.cl, the court concluded that the defendants, colluding among themselves, abused their custodial and administrative powers within their roles and functions in the Finance Directorate and other agencies of Carabineros de Chile. They exploited their various positions, specialized knowledge, and relevant information, alongside other active public officials, retired personnel, and private third parties, to misappropriate public funds amounting to $28,348,928,198.

Additionally, they materially and ideologically falsified layoff and 5% withdrawal deduction resolutions, involving civilian defendants who had no connection to Carabineros, to execute the misappropriation. The defendants utilized forged resolutions from the Pension Department granting pensions and severance indemnities to substantiate the financial transfers for supposed layoff compensations drawn from the severance fund’s current account.

Finally, aware that certain funds or assets originated directly or indirectly from the commission of a series of unlawful acts outlined in Article 27 of Law 19.913, they concealed or disguised their illicit origin or the very assets that derived from those crimes.

The sentencing communication hearing—scheduled to be drafted by Judge Juan Carlos Urrutia—is set for Thursday, February 11, 2027, at 11:00 AM.

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