Richard Izquierdo Arroyo, grandson of Assemblywoman Carmen E. Arroyo and nephew of City Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo, is facing civil charges in an alleged abuse case at a charter school he helped run. According to the Daily News, Arroyo is named in the suit (even though he no longer runs the school) because he didn't do enough to stop a teacher who's accused of assaulting a student and making sexually inappropriate comments. Arroyo was already facing criminal charges for embezzling from a Bronx nonprofit, and he's now ready to plead guilty in the embezzlement case. The Times reported that Arroyo's believed to have used the money for making political contributions to his family members, as well as spending on clothes, meals and trips. more ›

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the president and director of SBCC Management Corporation, which manages HUD-subsidized properties in the Bronx, stole $200,000 from the non-profit—and SBCC's president is Richard Izquierdo Arroyo, grandson of State Assemblywoman Carmen E. Arroyo and nephew of City Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo (SBCC director is Margarita Villegas). Almost $15,000 from the non-profit were given to campaigns for someone believed to be Carmen Arroyo and Running Scared details some of the other spending: "The pair, along with an unnamed relative, ran up tabs worth $15,000 at clothing stores including Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and --our favorite-- Promgirl. They also ran up bills of $66,000 with fine dining at the likes of Portofino, A Venice Restaurant, Tavern on the Green, and -- go figure -- IHOP. Another $48,000 went for airfares and hotels in San Juan, and Brooklyn (!). Another $34,000 was plunked down for car rentals, garages, and parking tickets in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and around the Empire State." Richard Arroyo and Villegas were indicted; City Councilwoman Arroyo, who apparently directed at least $50,000 in funds to SBCC, said, "I am confident that in the end, they will be able to clear their names." more ›