MIAMI (AP) — Former Republican congressman David Rivera was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Friday for concealing a $50 million lobbying campaign on behalf of Venezuela during the Trump administration. Rivera, 61, has been incarcerated since his conviction in May for conspiracy to commit money laundering and failing to register as a foreign agent for the government of Nicolás Maduro.
Judge Melissa Damian criticized Rivera for betraying his mission, noting that had the funds originated from Cuba's communist regime, it would not have been accepted. "Nobody would accept that's ok and I don't think this is different," she stated, emphasizing that the money came from the Maduro regime.
The case highlights foreign influence campaigns aimed at shaping U.S. policy toward Latin America, particularly in Miami, known for its anti-communist sentiment and corruption among its exile population. Testimony from President Donald Trump's Secretary of State, Rep. Pete Sessions, and a Washington lobbyist indicated that Rivera did not disclose his consulting contract with a U.S.-based affiliate of Venezuela's state oil company, PDVSA.
Rivera was charged in 2022 during President Joe Biden's administration, and the number of illegal foreign lobbying charges has decreased since Trump returned to the White House. Rivera's legal team has applied for a presidential pardon and plans to appeal the conviction while also addressing a related foreign lobbying case in Washington, D.C. A ruling is still pending on the government's request for Rivera to forfeit $20 million in criminal proceeds.
Rivera was approached by Maduro's Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez to help normalize relations with the Trump administration. He and political consultant Esther Nuhfer, who received a five-year sentence, sought to influence key political figures, including Rubio and Sessions, without disclosing their lobbying efforts.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Cruz stated, "The United States and the public were the true victims of this fraud," highlighting Rivera's breach of trust. Rivera, in his defense, expressed that he was not aware of any disclosure requirements and claimed that his contract was focused on commercial work to attract ExxonMobil back to Venezuela.
The judge disagreed, stating, "This is a serious offense. It's not about not filing a piece of paper." Rivera's meetings with Rubio and Sessions were characterized by prosecutors as attempts to facilitate illegal lobbying, with evidence showing he used an encrypted chat group to communicate with Venezuelan media tycoon Raúl Gorrín, who faces bribery charges in the U.S.
Despite previous controversies, Rivera maintains support among some in Miami's Cuban American community. Friends and supporters attended the sentencing, including the former president of Florida International University and Miami-Dade County's supervisor of elections. U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones expressed confusion over Rivera's continued support, stating, "He sold his anti-communism to communists to fill his greed."