Dominican Republic courts rule on major fraud and criminal network cases

Several significant legal developments have occurred in the Dominican Republic involving major fraud and criminal networks. In the Coop-Herrera case, known as Operación Búho, a court ratified the preventive detention of Gabriel Santana Borsilea, Jorge Eligio Méndez, and Jacer Eliazar Mejía Pereyra. They are accused of participating in a scheme that defrauded the Herrera Savings and Credit Cooperative of over RD$2,500 million, affecting approximately 366 people through fraudulent loan simulations and irregular financial certificates. The trial is scheduled to begin on November 20, 2026.

In a separate matter, the Public Ministry announced it will appeal to the Supreme Court of Justice regarding the Operación Gavilán case. This follows a decision by the Court of Appeals to reduce the sentences of individuals accused of altering criminal record databases. While a lower court had imposed 10-year prison terms, the appellate court modified these to shorter sentences and house arrest for several defendants, including Luis Peña Cedeño and Pilar Yrenes Medina Trinidad. The prosecution argues the appellate court misinterpreted the law.

Additionally, four Colombian nationals were ordered into three months of preventive detention for allegedly conducting armed robberies in the Piantini and Naco sectors, targeting luxury watches and cash. In another case, a Dominican citizen residing in the United States was sentenced to 27 months in prison for a pandemic-era unemployment insurance fraud scheme in Washington, D.C., involving over USD 1 million.