A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida has indicted Raul Gorrin Belisario, a Venezuelan television news network owner, for his involvement in an alleged $1.2 billion money laundering scheme. The funds were reportedly obtained corruptly from Venezuela’s state-owned energy company, Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), with bribes paid to Venezuelan officials.
Court documents indicate that between 2014 and 2018, Gorrin conspired with others to launder proceeds from the bribery scheme through the U.S. financial system and foreign bank accounts. The indictment states that Gorrin and his co-conspirators used millions of dollars in bribes to secure foreign currency exchange loan contracts with PDVSA and then laundered the illicit proceeds by purchasing real estate, yachts, and luxury items in Florida. They allegedly used shell companies and offshore bank accounts to conceal these transactions.
"According to the indictment, Gorrin and his co-conspirators paid millions of dollars in bribes to high-ranking foreign officials to secure over $1 billion in ill-gotten gains, which Gorrin and his co-conspirators used to purchase yachts and other luxury items in the United States," said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri. She emphasized that their actions exploited the U.S. financial system.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida reiterated the district's commitment to fighting foreign corruption: "Our office will continue to partner with the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) to identify, disrupt and prosecute those who launder money."
Katrina W. Berger of Homeland Security Investigations highlighted their efforts against global illegal activities: "This case demonstrates HSI’s global footprint... It also serves as a stark reminder that crime and corruption will not be tolerated."
Gorrin is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. He remains at large due to being a fugitive on another charge.
The investigation is being conducted by HSI Miami’s El Dorado Task Force with assistance from international authorities including those in the UK, Spain, Switzerland, Portugal, and Malta.
Trial Attorney Paul A. Hayden from the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section alongside Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nalina Sombuntham and Joshua Paster are prosecuting this case.
The OCDETF operation aims at dismantling top criminal organizations threatening U.S security using an intelligence-driven approach led by prosecutors.
An indictment is merely an allegation; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.