South Florida Businessman Charged With Violating Venezuela Sanctions

Jorge Nobrega, chief executive of Achabal Technologies, was charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and commit money laundering, according to an Aug. 16 complaint filed at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Nobrega was charged in particular with violating the sanctions on Venezuela by repairing Venezuelan Air Force combat aircraft without an authorization (United States of America v. Jorge Nobrega, S.D. Fla. #21-03590).

The details of the case were discovered via a confidential informant from Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations unit. Nobrega conspired to complete the repairs between February 2019 and May 2021, the complaint said. The informant discovered that Nobrega planned to receive payment from the Venezuelan government for his repair work via a Portugal-based bank account using Achabal's account.

Nobrega conspired with Venezuelan officials to repair SU-30 combat aircraft and was paid via a scheme involving the South American country's state oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., and its subsidiary Bariven and Tipco Asphalt PLC of Thailand. PDVSA is subject to sanctions under IEEPA.