MIAMI (AP) — Former Republican congressman David Rivera was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison for his involvement in a secret $50 million lobbying campaign aimed at influencing U.S. policy toward Venezuela during the first Trump administration.
Rivera, 61, was found guilty in May by a jury on charges including failing to register as a foreign agent and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Prosecutors argued that Rivera betrayed his public trust by working for the government of Nicolás Maduro, which faced U.S. sanctions and accusations of human rights violations.
During the seven-week trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Rivera, a friend of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was tapped by Venezuela's then-Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez to leverage Republican connections to alter the Trump administration's stance on Venezuela. Rivera and co-defendant Esther Nuhfer allegedly sought to influence officials including Rubio and then-Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas, while concealing their lobbying work for fear of jeopardizing Rivera's political career.
Prosecutors alleged Rivera used a $50 million contract with PDV USA, a U.S. affiliate of Venezuela's state oil company, as a cover for illegal lobbying. To conceal his activities, Rivera allegedly created an encrypted chat group called MIA with Raúl Gorrín, a Venezuelan media tycoon subsequently charged in the U.S. with bribery. The group used coded language, referring to Maduro as the "bus driver" and Rubio as "Miss Clairol."
Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Cruz stated that "the United States and the public were the true victims of this fraud," urging a severe sentence for Rivera's "betrayal." The judge denounced Rivera for betraying his "life's mission," noting that millions of dollars received from the Maduro regime would have been unacceptable if from other regimes.
Rivera's defense attorneys argued that the former congressman believed his work was primarily commercial, focused on attracting oil giant ExxonMobil back to Venezuela, and thus exempt from foreign agent registration requirements. They contended that Rivera's meetings with Rubio and Sessions were aimed at fostering a less hostile relationship with U.S. leadership, not supporting Maduro.
Prosecutors countered that Rivera engaged in a "classic money laundering case," citing backdated documents and sham agreements, including one to justify a $3.75 million wire transfer to a company that maintained Gorrín's luxury yacht. The efforts to normalize relations with the Trump administration ultimately failed, as President Donald Trump sanctioned Maduro within months of taking office.
Rivera faces additional federal charges in Washington, D.C., related to a foreign lobbying case. His attorneys plan to appeal the sentence and applied for a presidential pardon in June.
Before his conviction, Rivera, who served in the Florida Legislature and Congress, faced scrutiny over other matters, including allegations of secretly funding a political opponent. Despite past controversies, he maintained popularity within Miami's Cuban American community, with supporters present in the courtroom during his sentencing.