The United States has indicted Venezuelan media mogul Raul Gorrin Belisario, owner of the pro-government Globovision network, for laundering hundreds of millions of dollars in funds stolen from Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PDVSA. The Justice Department announced the charges on Wednesday, detailing Gorrin’s alleged role in a $1.2 billion scheme involving bribery of Venezuelan officials in exchange for favorable exchange rates and other benefits.
Gorrin, still at large, could face up to 20 years in prison if arrested and convicted. “Gorrin’s alleged conduct enriched corrupt government officials and exploited the US financial system to facilitate these crimes,” stated Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri.
This is not Gorrin’s first run-in with US law enforcement; he was previously placed on the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s “Most Wanted List” in 2020, accused of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Allegedly, Gorrin bribed Venezuelan officials through lavish payments, including wire transfers, luxury assets, and high-end purchases.
The case has US jurisdiction as some bribery transactions were planned and conducted in Florida, with funds transferred through accounts in Florida and New York. Univision reported that Gorrin has since evaded capture and resides in Caracas.
The US government, which has openly criticized Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, has continued to target high-level Venezuelan officials involved in corruption. In September, the US issued sanctions on 12 Maduro allies tied to election fraud allegations in Venezuela’s disputed presidential election.