Member of the U.S. Coast Guard charged with making false statements, fraudulent claims against the United States, wire fraud, and theft of government property

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On March 30, 2026, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging Mario Guzmán with four counts of false statements, four counts of fraudulent claims against the United States, four counts of wire fraud, and four counts of theft of government property, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. This investigation was led by the Coast Guard Investigative Service, Southeast Region.

Defendant Mario Guzmán, an active-duty Petty Officer Second Class Maritime Enforcement Specialist in the United States Coast Guard (“USCG”) was arrested on April 1, 2026, for making a series of fraudulent Temporary Lodging Allowance claims and unlawfully receiving payments he was not entitled to receive.

According to the charges, on four separate occasions, Guzmán fraudulently claimed to the USCG, when applying for Temporary Lodging Allowance funds, that he and his family incurred reimbursable expenses by residing at a location called “Tony’s Place,” when in fact Guzmán and his family did not reside at Tony’s Place, or incur in the claimed expenses. By making the fraudulent claims, Guzmán illegally stole approximately $32,260.00 in USCG housing allowance funds that he was not entitled to receive.

“The charges announced today reflect a serious abuse of responsibility and trust,” said United States Attorney, W. Stephen Muldrow. “Members of our armed forces are held to the highest standards, and when those standards are violated, we will act decisively. No one is above the law.”

“The Coast Guard is built on the fundamentals of honor, respect, and devotion to duty,” said Assistant Director Joshua Packer, Coast Guard Investigative Service, “We demand accountability from every member, and we will not tolerate actions that compromise our mission or the public’s trust.”

If convicted, defendant Mario Guzmán faces a maximum penalty of 20 years of imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody A. McKinney from the U.S. Coast Guard is in charge of prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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