Operation Hummingbird: 13 defendants formally charged

Santiago.- The Santiago Prosecutor’s Office has filed charges against 13 individuals involved in a criminal network operating within the Santiago Municipal Council, accused of processing thousands of false public and private documents, jeopardizing the country’s legal security. This indictment, based on the findings of Operation Hummingbird, covers over 600 pages detailing how the network, including various accomplices, forged documents such as identity cards, driver’s licenses, property titles, and more. The accused are part of an organized crime ring responsible for falsifying vital records and manipulating official documentation.

The 13 accused individuals include Julio Cesar Almonte Espinal, William Ramon Rodriguez, Samuel Elias Ceballos, and several others. They are charged with a range of crimes, including document falsification and criminal association. The Santiago Prosecutor’s Office, supported by the Central Electoral Board, presented over 800 pieces of evidence, including seized materials used in the production of fake documents. The investigation uncovered that the network engaged in altering civil registry certificates, erasing original data, and printing counterfeit documents that appeared legitimate, complete with security features.

The legal charges against the accused include violations of several articles in the Dominican Penal Code, laws on identity and electoral cards, and laws protecting personal data and against high-tech crimes. One of the accused, José Carlos Montero Troncoso, a former employee of the electoral body, faces additional charges for fraudulent database access and altering the nature of official records.