A federal jury convicted former Representative David Rivera of Florida on Friday, finding him guilty of conspiracy and five other crimes for secretly lobbying officials in Washington on behalf of the Venezuelan government in 2017 and 2018.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors presented evidence during the five-week trial in Miami showing that Venezuela\u2019s state-run oil company had secretly hired<\/a> Mr. Rivera\u2019s consulting firm for $50 million to lobby members of Congress and the White House for a thaw in U.S.-Venezuela relations.<\/p>\n The revelation ran contrary to how Mr. Rivera, a Republican, had portrayed himself in public. He made a political career, first as a state lawmaker and later as a congressman, as a strident anti-Communist. Mr. Rivera served in Congress from 2011 to 2013.<\/p>\n He had previously been the subject of several state and federal investigations into improper campaign dealings. He was also found guilty in the criminal case of failing to register as a foreign agent and money laundering, which carries a potentially long prison sentence. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 20.<\/p>\n \u201cThese convictions expose a simple truth: The defendants sold access and influence to a hostile foreign regime for money,\u201d Jason A. Reding Qui\u00f1ones, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, said in a statement on Friday.<\/p>\n He added: \u201cIn South Florida, where so many families fled communist oppression, that kind of betrayal carries real weight.\u201d<\/p>\n After jurors delivered their guilty verdict, prosecutors said that Mr. Rivera posed a potential flight risk and should be immediately sent to prison. One of his defense lawyers, David S. Weinstein, argued that he was not a flight risk, pointing to the two young children he shares with his ex-wife in the Atlanta area.<\/p>\n Judge Melissa Damian of the Federal District Court in Miami agreed with prosecutors and told U.S. marshals to take Mr. Rivera into custody. He showed little emotion in court.<\/p>\n His defense lawyers had argued that Mr. Rivera was not working for Nicol\u00e1s Maduro\u2019s government but rather surreptitiously trying to oust him. They also said that Mr. Rivera did not need to register as a foreign agent because his firm\u2019s contract was with an American company<\/a>, PDV USA, a U.S. subsidiary of the Venezuelan state-run oil company, Petr\u00f3leos de Venezuela, and not with the state-run company itself.<\/p>\n The 12-member jury also convicted one of Mr. Rivera\u2019s associates, Esther Nuhfer, on four charges. Prosecutors said that Mr. Rivera, 60, split the secret contract earnings, which ultimately amounted to about $20 million after the company terminated the contract, with Ms. Nuhfer and two people who were not charged in the case. Ms. Nuhfer, 52, is a political consultant based in Miami. Judge Damian granted bond for Ms. Nuhfer.<\/p>\n Lawyers for Mr. Rivera and Ms. Nuhfer said they would appeal.<\/p>\n Roger Cruz, an assistant U.S. attorney and the lead prosecutor, said in his closing argument on Tuesday that Mr. Rivera and Ms. Nuhfer decided to keep the contract secret because of \u201cgreed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWithout their keeping it secret, they would not have got a single penny,\u201d he said. \u201cIf anyone found out, their careers would be over.\u201d<\/p>\n