Former Florida congressman arrested for alleged secret contract with Venezuela

Former U.S. Rep. David Rivera was arrested on Monday on charges of conspiring to launder money and acting as an agent for the government of Venezuela, according to authorities.

Rivera, who served in Congress from 2011 to 2013, and his associate Esther Nugfer sought to improve bilateral ties and ease U.S. economic sanctions against the South American country by lobbying with politicians on the regime’s behalf. 

According to the indictment, the two concealed the nature of their work in their dealings with each other and other foreign officials, despite it being required by the Foreign Agents Registration Act. 

When speaking to each other, they used code words such as “melons” to refer to millions and “el guaguero,” a term used for bus drivers in the South American country, to refer to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. 

In exchange for helping the Venezuelan government, Rivera’s consulting group Interamerican Consulting allegedly received $50 million in payments between March and April 2017 from the U.S. branch of the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA, according to the indictment. 

“Rivera and Nuhfer concealed from public scrutiny and United States officials the existence of the consulting agreement with PDV USA, and the millions of dollars they received to lobby on behalf of the government of Venezuela,” the indictment said.

Additionally, Rivera and Nugfer are also being charged with engaging in transactions with criminally derived property. Their company paid millions of dollars to a company managing yachts for a Venezuelan businessman. 

"Law enforcement officers arrested David Rivera today in Atlanta, Georgia, where he made his initial court appearance before a federal magistrate judge," wrote a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida.