Jose Luis De Jongh Atencio, Money Laundering, Texas 2023
Former Venezuelan Official Pleads Guilty in Connection with International Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme
A former Venezuelan official, Jose Luis De Jongh Atencio, 48, has pleaded guilty to his role in laundering millions of dollars in bribes and corruptly providing business advantages to multiple individuals who obtained contracts with Citgo Petroleum Corporation and Petróleos de Venezuela S.A.
According to court documents, De Jongh accepted more than $7 million in bribe payments from businessmen including Jose Manuel Gonzalez Testino and Tulio Anibal Farias Perez in exchange for assisting them in procuring contracts with Citgo and providing them with other business advantages.
De Jongh admitted to directing bribe payments into bank accounts in the names of shell companies that he controlled in Panama and Switzerland. He laundered the bribe proceeds through U.S. and international bank accounts and used the funds to purchase real property located in the Houston area.
De Jongh also received bribes in the form of gifts and other things of value from the businessmen, including tickets to a 2014 World Series Game, Super Bowl XLIX in 2015, and a U2 concert.
De Jongh pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gray H. Miller on Aug. 19. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
As part of his plea, De Jongh agreed to forfeit over $3 million seized from his bank accounts and 15 properties that he purchased with his corrupt proceeds.
The Justice Department has announced charges against 28 individuals, 22 of whom have pleaded guilty, as part of a larger, ongoing investigation into bribery at PDVSA.
Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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