MIAMI – A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida returned an indictment today charging Raul Gorrin Belisario, 56, of Venezuela, in a $1.2 billion scheme to launder funds corruptly obtained from Venezuela’s state-owned and state-controlled energy company, Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), in exchange for hundreds of millions in bribe payments to Venezuelan officials.
According to court documents, between 2014 and 2018, Raul Gorrin Belisario conspired with others to launder the proceeds of an illegal bribery scheme using the U.S. financial system as well as various bank accounts located abroad. Raul Gorrin Belisario and his co-conspirators paid millions of dollars in bribes to high-level Venezuelan officials to obtain foreign currency exchange loan contracts with PDVSA. Raul Gorrin Belisario and his co-conspirators subsequently directed the laundering of the illicit proceeds, in part, in the Southern District of Florida, where they purchased real estate, yachts, and other luxury items.
To conceal the movement of the bribe payments and illicit funds, Raul Gorrin Belisario and his co-conspirators used a series of shell companies and offshore bank accounts. “This case represents the Southern District of Florida’s continued commitment to combating foreign corruption and holding those who subvert the integrity of the U.S. financial system responsible for their crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida.
Raul Gorrin Belisario is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, Raul Gorrin Belisario faces up to 20 years in prison. Raul Gorrin Belisario, who is a fugitive in a separately charged matter, remains at large.
HSI Miami’s El Dorado Task Force is investigating the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and authorities in the United Kingdom, Spain, Switzerland, Portugal, and Malta assisted with the investigation.
Raul Gorrin Belisario is a Venezuelan television news network owner who allegedly laundered $1.2 billion in funds corruptly obtained from Venezuela’s state-owned energy company. The scheme involved bribing high-level Venezuelan officials and using the U.S. financial system to launder the illicit proceeds.
This case demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement agencies to combating foreign corruption and holding those responsible for their crimes. The investigation was conducted by HSI Miami’s El Dorado Task Force, with assistance from the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and authorities in several countries.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nalina Sombuntham for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Paul A. Hayden of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Paster for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime|Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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