Venezuela arrests brother of ex oil czar in corruption probe
2 years, 3 months ago

Venezuela arrests brother of ex oil czar in corruption probe

Associated Press  

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela has thrown back in prison the brother of the country’s former oil czar as part of an ongoing investigation into a multi-billion dollar embezzlement scheme at the state-run oil company. Ramirez was originally arrested in early 2018 for his alleged involvement in a decade-old scheme to siphon to a bank account in the tiny European country of Andorra $2 billion from state-run oil giant PDVSA. Italy, where Ramirez fled after resigning in 2017 as Venezuela’s ambassador to the United Nations, last year rejected Venezuela’s extradition request, finding that he would face political persecution if he was sent back. But Ramirez has also been on the radar of prosecutors in the U.S., having been named — but not charged — in an indictment partially unsealed in 2018 in Houston against five former PDVSA officials The indictment alleges two of the charged individuals told businessmen that proceeds from bribes made in exchange for quick payments and contracts would be shared with a senior Venezuelan official.

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History of this topic

Son-in-law of top foe of Venezuela’s president sentenced to 30 months on money laundering charge
3 weeks, 3 days ago

Son-in-law of top foe of Venezuela’s president sentenced to 30 months on money laundering charge

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The son-in-law of a prominent …

Son-in-law of top foe of Venezuela’s president sentenced to 30 months on money laundering charge
3 weeks, 3 days ago

Son-in-law of top foe of Venezuela’s president sentenced to 30 months on money laundering charge

Associated Press  

MIAMI — The son-in-law of a prominent Venezuelan opposition leader was sentenced Tuesday to two and a half years in prison for his role in a vast conspiracy to siphon $1.2 billion from the state-owned oil company, some of which allegedly landed into accounts controlled by President Nicolás Maduro ’s stepsons. Who would accept that amount of money so quickly?,” …

Venezuela arrests a former oil czar and accuses him of working with the US to undermine the industry
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Venezuela arrests a former oil czar and accuses him of working with the US to undermine the industry

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Venezuela's top prosecutor on Monday …

Venezuela's Former Oil Minister Arrested for Alleged Ties to US Intelligence Firm
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Venezuela's Former Oil Minister Arrested for Alleged Ties to US Intelligence Firm

Al Jazeera  

Venezuela's former oil minister, Pedro Tellechea, has been arrested for alleged ties to US intelligence services. Tellechea was appointed head of PDVSA in January 2023 and resigned days before his arrest. He was accused of facilitating the illegal delivery of an automated control system to a company controlled by the US intelligence services.

Former Venezuelan oil minister is arrested in connection with corruption probe, authorities say
9 months ago

Former Venezuelan oil minister is arrested in connection with corruption probe, authorities say

Associated Press  

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela’s once-powerful oil minister, who resigned unexpectedly last year during a corruption probe at the top ranks of the state-run crude industry, has been arrested, the government said Tuesday. The top prosecutor tied the former minister to the alleged scheme that involved selling Venezuelan oil through the country’s cryptocurrency oversight agency in parallel to the state-run Petróleos …

Colombian president’s son arrested in money laundering probe
1 year, 5 months ago

Colombian president’s son arrested in money laundering probe

Al Jazeera  

Nicolas Petro taken into custody on charges of money laundering and illicit enrichment. Colombian police have arrested the president’s son on charges of money laundering and illicit enrichment as part of a high-profile probe into funds he allegedly collected during last year’s election campaign. The chief prosecutor’s office said in a statement that Nicolas Petro and his ex-wife Daysuris Vazquez …

Venezuela detains 44 officials in corruption probe
1 year, 9 months ago

Venezuela detains 44 officials in corruption probe

Al Jazeera  

Government cracks down on embezzlement that is believed to have cost it billions of dollars. So far, the country’s powerful oil minister, Tareck El Aissami, has resigned over the graft investigation, and Attorney General Tarek William Saab said on Twitter on Sunday that the prosecutor’s office has detained “44 subjects linked to various corruption schemes that have sought to embezzle …

Shadowy brokers walk off with billions in Venezuelan oil
1 year, 9 months ago

Shadowy brokers walk off with billions in Venezuelan oil

Associated Press  

CARACAS, Venezuela — One startup lists as its address a small home in a working-class district in Venezuela’s capital whose owner has never heard of the firm. They are among the dozens of obscure middlemen at the center of a new crackdown in Venezuela on corruption in the state-run oil industry that has government insiders scurrying for cover — and …

Shadowy brokers walk off with billions in Venezuelan oil
1 year, 9 months ago

Shadowy brokers walk off with billions in Venezuelan oil

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “It would be very difficult for even a …

Top Venezuela oil official pleads guilty to taking bribes
1 year, 9 months ago

Top Venezuela oil official pleads guilty to taking bribes

Associated Press  

MIAMI — The former general counsel for Venezuela’s state-owned oil company pleaded guilty in Miami federal court on money laundering charges Wednesday in connection to a conspiracy to siphon at least $550 million from state coffers through corrupt currency deals. “I came here to own up to my mistakes and to take responsibility before the U.S. courts.” Nass, 43, in …

Venezuela: 21 officials, businessmen arrested in oil scheme
1 year, 9 months ago

Venezuela: 21 officials, businessmen arrested in oil scheme

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Venezuela’s attorney general said Saturday …

Venezuela oil czar in surprise resignation amid graft probes
1 year, 9 months ago

Venezuela oil czar in surprise resignation amid graft probes

Associated Press  

CARACAS, Venezuela — The man responsible for running Venezuela’s oil industry — the one that pays for virtually everything in the troubled country, from subsidized food to ridiculously cheap gas — has quit amid investigations into alleged corruption among officials in various parts of the government. “This is really a chance for the regime to sideline someone that it felt …

Venezuela’s powerful oil tsar resigns amid corruption inquiry
1 year, 9 months ago

Venezuela’s powerful oil tsar resigns amid corruption inquiry

Al Jazeera  

Petroleum Minister Tareck El Aissami announces his resignation on Twitter, saying he will cooperate with gov’t investigation. Venezuela’s powerful petroleum minister has announced his resignation following the detention of at least six high-level officials amid a corruption inquiry focused on state-run company Petroleos de Venezuela SA, the judiciary, and other parts of the government. Tareck El Aissami announced his resignation …

Accusations against relatives a blow to Colombian president
1 year, 10 months ago

Accusations against relatives a blow to Colombian president

Associated Press  

BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombian President Gustavo Petro has asked prosecutors to investigate accusations against his brother and one of his sons that could deal a blow to his presidency and undermine his plans for peace and to fight corruption. Petro, a former guerrilla who was elected as Colombia’s first leftist president last year, has promised to battle endemic corruption and …

Oilman catches sentencing break for exposing Venezuela graft
2 years, 2 months ago

Oilman catches sentencing break for exposing Venezuela graft

Associated Press  

MIAMI — A Florida-based oilman who pleaded guilty for taking part in a $1 billion conspiracy to pay bribes to Venezuelan officials received a major break in sentencing after providing standout cooperation to U.S. prosecutors investigating corruption at the country’s state-run oil monopoly. Judge Gray Miller on Thursday sentenced Shiera, who was born in Venezuela, to 12 months and a …

Venezuela government again accuses ex-oil czar of wrongdoing
2 years, 4 months ago

Venezuela government again accuses ex-oil czar of wrongdoing

Associated Press  

CARACAS, Venezuela — The Venezuelan government is again accusing its former oil czar of wrongdoing while he oversaw the country’s most important industry, this time alleging he was involved in a multi-billion dollar embezzlement operation during the early 2010s that took advantage of a dual currency exchange system. Venezuela Attorney General Tarek William Saab on Thursday told reporters that Rafael …

US moves to ease a few economic sanctions on Venezuela
2 years, 7 months ago

US moves to ease a few economic sanctions on Venezuela

Al Jazeera  

The limited changes will allow Chevron Corp to negotiate its licence with the state-owned oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela. The United States government is moving to ease a few economic sanctions on Venezuela in a gesture meant to encourage resumed negotiations between the US-backed opposition and the government of President Nicolás Maduro. The limited changes will allow Chevron Corp to …

Venezuela upholds long jail sentences for US oil executives
2 years, 11 months ago

Venezuela upholds long jail sentences for US oil executives

Associated Press  

MIAMI — A court in Venezuela has upheld long prison sentences for six American oil executives detained in the South American country on corruption charges for more than four years. Venezuela’s supreme court announced the ruling late Friday, disappointing family members who had hoped the surprise decision last fall to hear the appeal, and a recent jailhouse visit by a …

Spain arrests Venezuelan spymaster wanted on US drug charges
3 years, 4 months ago

Spain arrests Venezuelan spymaster wanted on US drug charges

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

US sanctions Venezuelan judge, prosecutor over Citgo convictions
4 years ago

US sanctions Venezuelan judge, prosecutor over Citgo convictions

Al Jazeera  

The Trump administration imposed sanctions on a judge and prosecutor for the conviction of six American oil executives. The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on the Venezuelan judge and prosecutor behind the conviction on corruption charges of six American oil executives. Presiding over the trial were Judge Lorena Carolina Cornielles Ruiz and prosecutor Ramon Antonio Torres Espinoza, who as a …

Venezuela moves U.S. oil execs to a harsher jail after Trump hosts opposition leader
4 years, 10 months ago

Venezuela moves U.S. oil execs to a harsher jail after Trump hosts opposition leader

LA Times  

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido waves after being acknowledged by President Trump during the State of the Union address on Feb. 4, 2020. And last week they were moved to harsher facilities after President Trump’s red-carpet treatment of a key Venezuelan opposition leader during the State of the Union address. “He’s loved and he’s not forgotten,” Cristina Vadell, 28, said …

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