A Venezuelan media tycoon, Raul Gorrin, has been charged in federal court in Florida for his alleged involvement in a money laundering conspiracy to siphon over $1 billion from the state-owned oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA). The indictment accuses Gorrin of laundering funds obtained from PDVSA in exchange for substantial bribery payments to Venezuelan officials.
Gorrin, 56, faces one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted. He is currently considered a fugitive by the U.S. authorities. Gorrin has denied any wrongdoing through his attorney.
The U.S. Justice Department stated that Gorrin's alleged actions enriched corrupt government officials and exploited the U.S. financial system to facilitate the crimes. The indictment reveals that Gorrin and his associates used shell companies and offshore bank accounts to conceal the movement of bribe payments and illicit funds.
Between 2014 and 2018, Gorrin conspired to launder proceeds from the bribery scheme, directing them to South Florida for the purchase of real estate, yachts, and luxury items. The scheme involved paying millions in bribes to high-level Venezuelan officials to secure foreign currency exchange loan contracts with PDVSA.
Gorrin, known as a 'boliburgués' in Venezuela, was involved in purchasing the popular television network Globovision in 2013 and altering its anti-government coverage. He was also linked to a previous indictment as 'Conspirator 7,' which tied him to a scheme exploiting Venezuela's currency system to embezzle hundreds of millions from PDVSA.
The ongoing investigation, known as Operation Money Flight, has seen numerous PDVSA officials and their associates charged with money laundering. The case sheds light on the complex web of corruption and illicit financial activities that have plagued Venezuela amid its political, social, and economic crisis.
