Venezuelan Tycoon Indicted in Bribery Scheme

Raul Gorrin Belisario, the owner of the pro-government Venezuelan news network Globovision, has been indicted by the U.S. Justice Department for allegedly laundering over $1.2 billion obtained through corrupt practices involving Venezuela's state oil company, PDVSA. The indictment, issued by a federal grand jury in Florida, accuses Gorrin of conspiring to pay hundreds of millions in bribes to Venezuelan officials in exchange for favorable currency exchange contracts. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted. Gorrin has previously been charged in other cases and is currently considered a fugitive, with U.S. authorities emphasizing their commitment to combating foreign corruption. The scheme involved utilizing the U.S. financial system and foreign bank accounts to conceal the illicit funds, which were used to purchase luxury items and real estate. Gorrin's allegations reflect a broader scrutiny of Venezuelan elites who enriched themselves during the Chavez administration.