Former Venezuelan Official, Husband Sentenced in FCPA Bribery Scheme

Claudia Patricia Diaz Guillen, Venezuela's former national treasurer, and her husband, Adrian Jose Velasquez, each were sentenced to 15 years in prison for their roles in a bribery and money-laundering scheme in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, DOJ announced April 19. The duo accepted and laundered over $136 million in bribes from Venezuelan billionaire and Globovision news network owner Raul Gorrin Belisario in exchange for access to purchase bonds from the Venezuela National Treasury at a favorable exchange rate.

Diaz and Velasquez were convicted in December of the money laundering charges. Gorrin remains a fugitive in Venezuela. The FCPA conspiracy involved "bulk cash hidden in cardboard boxes, offshore shell companies, Swiss bank accounts, and international wire transfers allegedly sent by Gorrin for Diaz and Velasquez's benefit," DOJ said, adding that the money was used to buy private jets and yachts and to back a luxury fashion line started by Diaz and Velasquez in Florida.

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Polite said this case shows "the Criminal Division never wavers in its determination to hold accountable corrupt officials who subvert the rule of law and use our financial system to launder money related to their illicit schemes.”