Puerto Rico business leader snared in tax cheat crackdown

The president-elect of the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce is resigning after being targeted in a crackdown on tax cheats by the commonwealth's cash-strapped Treasury Department.

Chamber President Jose E. Vazquez Barquet announced Frank Medina's resignation Saturday.

Treasury officials say Medina's Vita Natura vitamin supplements supplier was shuttered Friday until it pays $257,753 in taxes.

Calls to Medina's businesses seeking comment rang unanswered on Sunday. El Nuevo Dia newspaper quoted him as telling reporters Friday that he was "sad and embarrassed" by the situation and would pay his debt.

The months-long crackdown has focused on businesses that have failed to remit proceeds from an 11.5 percent sales tax charged to clients.

Puerto Rico's Treasury Department has intervened with 35 businesses that collectively owe it $23 million.


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Puerto Rico business leader snared in tax cheat crackdown

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