MIAMI — A federal jury convicted former U.S. Rep. David Rivera, 60, and lobbyist Esther Nuhfer, 51, of secretly lobbying on behalf of Venezuela’s government and laundering millions of dollars tied to a $50 million contract with a subsidiary of the country’s state-owned oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A.
“These convictions expose a simple truth: the defendants sold access and influence to a hostile foreign regime for money,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “They accepted millions tied to the Maduro regime, concealed that relationship from the United States government, and used trusted personal and political relationships to secretly advance the interests of Venezuela’s regime. In South Florida, where so many families fled communist oppression, that kind of betrayal carries real weight.”
Evidence presented at trial showed Rivera and Nuhfer obtained the contract to advance Venezuelan interests in the United States without registering as foreign agents under the Foreign Agent Registration Act. The pair lobbied U.S. officials — including then-U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions — and arranged meetings between American policymakers and high-ranking Venezuelan officials, including then-President Nicolas Maduro and then-Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez. Text message exchanges showed Rivera and Nuhfer used coded language to describe their activities.
Rivera funneled approximately $600,000 from the contract proceeds into his Florida state congressional campaign and personal expenses, according to court records. Nuhfer used approximately $455,000 of the proceeds to purchase a residence in Key Colony Beach.
“Today’s verdict sends a clear and powerful message: our democratic processes are not for sale to foreign adversaries,” said Brett Skiles, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Miami. “Using coded messages and laundering millions of dollars to fund personal lifestyles and political campaigns, these defendants thought they could operate in the shadows. This conviction proves that no matter how much ‘coded language’ is used or how high-ranking the conspirators may be, the FBI and its partners will remain steadfast in identifying and investigating those who covertly serve foreign interests at the expense of the American public’s trust.”
Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Florida Field Office, said the case demonstrated the value of interagency cooperation. “Following the money is what IRS Criminal Investigation does best, and our agents worked tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to uncover the illegal activity driving this foreign influence scheme,” Loecker said. “IRS Special Agents will continue to pursue criminals, regardless of how sophisticated the scheme or influential the individuals involved.”
The jury found Rivera guilty of conspiracy to violate FARA, a substantive FARA violation, conspiracy to commit money laundering and four counts of engaging in transactions in criminally derived property. Nuhfer was convicted of conspiracy to violate FARA, a FARA violation, conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of engaging in transactions in criminally derived property. Rivera faces a maximum sentence of 60 years in prison; Nuhfer faces a maximum of 30 years. A federal district court judge will determine sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. The case is filed under case number 22-cr-20552 in the Southern District of Florida.