Huron Azul (English)

PROVINCIAL PROSECUTOR

CITY OF HAVANA

DRUGS AND CORRUPTION

ENTERTAINMENT TEAM

“BLUE HURON” CASE

On December 1, 2008 the DTI received information in reference to citizen Juan Carlos Fernández García, age 47, residing at 153 Humboldt, between O and P, Vedado, who, while engaged in illegal activities as the proprietor of the private restaurant “Huron Azul” (Blue Huron), had obtained great sums of money which allowed him to maintain an extravagant life style characterized by the acquisition of several houses, hundreds of works of art, appliances and frequent trips abroad, among other manifestations of undeserved enrichment. The initial operation points out employment of personnel not authorized to work in a privately-owned eatery, the use of a greater number of tables and seats than permitted, as well as the acquisition of beef and seafood for sale, part of which were hidden in the cistern to escape police action. “Blue Huron” was; in fact, a great restaurant.

On December 2nd a file was opened for the preliminary investigation with the purpose of later starting the procedure against the referred citizen for confiscating goods, initiating an operative that, due to the great number of goods to be seized, has been extended to the month of January. To date, the following have been seized: 7 homes, 1 car, 1 motorcycle, 22,000 CUC, 29,000 MN, 22 units of refrigeration equipment, 3 industrial stoves, 4 splits and 10 air conditioners, 7 microwaves, 2 electric generators, 3 computers, 6 cellular phones, 3-42” TV’s, 7 safes, 2 currency counters, 100’s of artwork, around 200 cartons of internationally known alcoholic beverages, a great number of china sets, numerous cartons of food products and several hundred pounds of different types of meat, among other goods. The removal of items from the homes is not yet complete.

In five of the homes taken over the presence of 100’s of artwork went on record. Due to their large quantities, the works of art have not been completely inventoried by the experts of the National Registry of Cultural Goods, noting that one of the paintings is valued at 80,000 CUC. Part of the artwork is an important component of collections by contemporaneous artists, who, in many instances would provide them as consignment to amortize expenses they incurred in the eatery, and in other instances, as collateral for cash loans.

At the José Martí International Airport Cargo Terminal 11 parcels were seized. They had been sent by the individual under investigation from Panama during his and his wife’s recent visit to that country, containing a refrigerated vertical display case, a refrigerator, a mini-refrigerator, a 42” plasma TV, an inflatable swimming pool, an industrial meat slicer, two photocopiers donated to the National Fine Arts Museum, foodstuffs and other goods. This was one of the conduits used to supply the eatery by Fernández García, against whom disciplinary proceedings have been implemented.

Contracts for the performance or managing of goods between “Blue Huron” and foreign entities have been seized, as well as the establishment of a restaurant in Milan, Italy, with 50% participation by “Blue Huron”. Unconfirmed evidence of similar activities in Spain was discovered.

“Blue Huron” was inspected up to three times a month, and violations were never detected, though the following could be seen in plain sight: the two adjacent buildings that housed “Blue Huron”, making up one internal location, functioning and in total activity, consisting of two large rooms with tables, wine cellar with reserve, two large rooms for the collective activities, a giant kitchen and storage spaces, without the presence of bedrooms or any other clue that people could live there. Regular and casual employees contributed even more than the declared amounts, and forbidden meals were offered, routinely appearing in the menus.

With the illegally obtained money, Juan Carlos Fernández García involved himself in activities not associated with the social objective of the eatery, and he used the location in sponsoring cultural activities of art gallery and cultural project nature. There is documented evidence of donations and contributions to different cultural entities, which in turn have awarded Fernández García diplomas and recognition certificates.

The budget for the 70th Anniversary show of the painting “The Rapture of the Mulatto Women” by Carlos Enriquez, officially so-called “The Rapture in the Pupil” that took place at the Spanish-American Cultural Center, which was conceived, directed and financed by Fernández García, could be around 50,000 CUC. 38 contemporaneous painters participated, and each was granted a 1000 CUC credit at the eatery, with the creation of a documentary film equally directed and financed by the subject of the investigation. This show, co-sponsored by the National Museum of Fine Arts, Genesis Art Galleries, Torres Wineries, Air Europa, Cuban Galleries, Altex Group, Heineken Group, Ernst & Young Caribbean Professional Services LTD, Viroex, Imex, MG Distilleries, DZ Bank, Galicia Innova Foundation, Serviguide and Belepharm, had, in addition, marketing media coverage by Cubavisión, Granma, Havana Radio, Havana Tribune, Cubarte, CMBF Radio, Our Havana and Jiribilla. The National Museum lent Juan Carlos the original.

Fernández García paid excess of 10,000 Cuban Pesos each month for consumption of electricity, and there is proof that, in the case of “Blue Huron”, electric power used came from five different meters, thus distributing consumption in order to pay less, with the total fees paid for by the adjacent neighbors.

On January 15 the “Calle Diez” (Tenth Street) eatery was confiscated. It was registered to Emilio Flores Abin, and located at 314 Tenth Street, between Third and Fifth, Miramar. In 1999 it was acquired by Fernández García, who maintained it under his authority until recently, having built a Great Ranch with all the facilities, and equipping it with the most diverse means for its operation, illegally contracting personnel for the work, and assuming the expenses for its operation.

On January 19 it became known that the “La Española” (Spanish) eatery, registered to Antonio Fernández Ramos, operating between 1995 and 2000 at the house located at 258 Figueroa Street, between Santa Catalina and Milagros, Diez de Octubre, was really the property of Juan Carlos Fernández García, who financed, managed it and resided there with his then wife Isis Marlen, who worked at the eatery. In 2000 Juan Carlos bought the house from Antonio in order to finance Antonio’s trip to Spain, having him marry Isis Marlen, in order to legalize the transaction pertaining to the real estate, which was finally confiscated due to its fraudulent acquisition.

JUAN CARLOS FERNANDEZ GARCIA, AGE 47, SELF-EMPLOYED, N° 153 HUMBOLDT ST., VEDADO

PALADARES (PRIVATE RESTAURANTS) OWNED