Two Businessmen Charged with Foreign Bribery in Connection with Venezuela Bribery Scheme

Two Businessmen Charged with Foreign Bribery in Connection with Venezuela Bribery Scheme

A former sales representative

the president of a U.S.-based company

were charged in an indictment unsealed today on foreign bribery, wire fraud and money laundering charges for their alleged roles in a scheme to corruptly secure business advantages,

including contracts and payment on past due invoices, from Venezuela’s state-owned and state-controlled energy company,

Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA).

Rafael Enrique Pinto Franceschi (Pinto), 40, of Miami, Florida,

Franz Herman Muller Huber (Muller), 68, of Weston, Florida,

were charged in a five-count indictment returned in the Southern District of Texas on Feb. 21, and unsealed today.

Pinto and Muller are each charged with

one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA),

one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud,

one count of conspiracy to launder money.

OPA | Department of Justice

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/two-businessmen-charged-foreign-bribery-connection-venezuela-bribery-scheme