San Juan, Puerto Rico (June 26, 2026) — The Comptroller of Puerto Rico, CPA and Attorney Carmen Vega Fournier, reported today the results of Investigation OC-26-46 into irregularities related to the handling of funds allocated to the Centers for Sustainable Student Support, known as Project C.A.S.A., of the Department of Education. The report examined operations carried out between May 1, 2019 and September 30, 2023.
The investigation arose from a complaint regarding alleged irregularities in the handling of public funds by Profesional Career Training Corp., an entity that operated Project C.A.S.A. centers in Cidra and Peñuelas. Between August 22, 2019 and June 30, 2023, the Department of Education executed with the corporation four collaborative agreements and two amendments totaling $2,587,677. Between November 20, 2019 and August 18, 2023, the Department paid $2,349,380 to that entity.
The report notes that the Office of the Comptroller of Puerto Rico (OCPR) obtained banking information by court order and identified transactions involving funds allocated to Project C.A.S.A. According to the investigation, between January 1, 2020 and September 29, 2023, the corporation’s executive director used $57,632 through electronic transfers to his personal accounts and cash withdrawals. In addition, he issued checks to himself in the amount of $172,088 that bore no relation to the informative returns submitted to the Department of the Treasury by the corporation.
The OCPR concluded that the funds allocated to Project C.A.S.A. were used in a manner contrary to the provisions of the contract, the regulations and the applicable laws. The report indicates that the actions examined may have constituted violations of Act 1-2011, known as the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code of 2011.
The document does not contain a formal management comments section or a written response from the Department of Education, from Profesional Career Training Corp. or from the executive director regarding the finding. Nevertheless, as part of the investigation, Department officials indicated that for fiscal year 2023-24 the corporation’s contract was not renewed due to administrative deficiencies and irregularities in the accounting information.
As a result, the OCPR issued referrals to the Secretary of Justice, the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of the Treasury so that they may evaluate the facts and take the measures they deem appropriate. The referrals were identified as RDIE-1201-5498-26-51, RDIE-1201-5498-26-50 and RDIE-1201-5498-26-52, respectively, all submitted on April 13, 2026. The Comptroller urged “the personnel of the Department of Education to strengthen controls over the use of public funds and to promote an effective, economical, efficient and ethical administration of Government resources for the benefit of the people of Puerto Rico”.
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