KS

Case 1:21-cr-20509-JEM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/07/2021 Page 1 of 25

Oct 7, 2021

UN ITED STA TES DISTR ICT C OU RT

SOU TH ERN DISTRICT OF FLO RIDA
21-20509-CR-MARTINEZ/BECERRA
C aseN o.
18U.S.C.j19561)
18U.S.C.j1956(a)(2)(A)
18U.S.C.j1956(a)(2)(B)(i)
18U.S.C.j2
18U.S.C.j982(a)(1)
UM TED STATES O F AM ER ICA

VS.

ALVAR O PULID O V AR GA S,
a/k/a tiG erm an Enrique Rubio Salas,''
a/k/a dscuchi,''
JOSE GREGORIO W ELM A-M OM ,
EM M AN UEL ENRIQUE RUBIO GONZALEZ,
CARI,OSROLANDO LIZCANO M ANRIQUE,aud
A NA GU ILLERM O LU IS,

D efendants.

INDICTG NT

The Grand Jury chargesthat:

G ENER AI,V LEG ATIO NS

A talltim es relevantto thisIndictm ent,unless otherwise specified:

RELEV ANT STATU TO R Y BA CK G RO UN D

The Foreign CorruptPractices Act of 1977,as am ended,Title 15,United Stateb-

Code,Sections78dd-1,etseq.(the(TCPA''),wasenactedbyCongressforthepurposeof,among
other things,m aking it unlawfulfor certain classes of persons and entities to act corruptly in

furtherance of an offer,prom ise,authorization,or paym ent of m oney or anything ofvalue to a

foreign govenzm entofficialforthepurposeofinfluencingtheforeign official,inducingtheforeign

Case 1:21-cr-20509-JEM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/07/2021 Page 2 of 25

officialto take or om itcertain acts,and securing an im proper advantage in orderto assistthose

classesofpersons in obtaining orretaining business for,ordirecting businessto,any person.

RELEVAN T INDIW D U AT,S A ND EN TITIES

ComitéLocaldeAbastecimientoyProduccitm ICCLAP''IwasaVenezuelanstate-
ow ned and state-controlled food and m edicine distribution program forthe people ofV enezuela.

ComercializadoradeBienesY ServiciosDe1EstadoTachira(CCOBISERTA'')was
a company thatwas ow ned and controlled by the Venezuelan State ofTachira and that,am ong

otherthings,purchased food forthe people of Tachira. COBISERTA was a Cûdepartment''

Kçagency,'' and fçinstrum entality'' of a foreign govenunent, and COBISERTA 'S ofticers and

employeesw ere llforeign officials,''as those tel'm s are used in the FCPA ,Title 15,United States

Code, Section 78dd-3(t)(2)(A). COBISERTA'S officers and employees were also Ktpublic
officials''asthatterm isused underV enezuelan law .

CoporaciônVenezolanadeComercioExteriorIGICOR#OVEX''Iwasastate-owned
and stte-controlled entity in V enezuela that m anaged all import and export activities of

Venezueli. CORPO'
VEX was a ç'department,''(iagency,''and EEinstrumentality''of a foreigp

governm ent,and CORPOVEX 'Sofficers and em ployees were <iforeign officials,''asthose term s

areused in theFCPA,Title 15,United StatesCode,Section 78dd-3(9(2)(A). CORPOVEX'S

officersand em ployeeswere also (Cpublic officials''asthatterm isused underV enezuelan law .

M inisteriodelPoderPopulardeEconomfayFinanzas(GtM inistryofVinance'')was
the governm entm inistry in V enezuela thatoversaw the financesofV enezuela. The M inistry of

Finance was a 'Kdepartm ent,''Stagency,''and EEinstlnam entality''of a foreign governm ent,and the

M inistry ofFinance's officersand employeesw ere çEforeign officials,''asthosetenns are used in

theFCPA,Title15,UnitedStatesCode,Section78dd-3(t)(2)(A).M inistryofFinance'soffcers
Case 1:21-cr-20509-JEM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/07/2021 Page 3 of 25

and employeesw ere also Gtpublic officials''asthatterm is used underVenezuelan law .

A

Fondo de Desarollo Nacional CTONDEN''I was the state-owned and state-

controlled governm ententity in V enezuelathatinvested governm entfunds in thebestinterests of

the people of V enezuela. FON DEN was a Ssdepartm ent,''EEagency,''and (çinstrum entality''of a

foreign govelmm ent,and FOND EN 'S officers and em ployees w ere Ctforeign officials,''as those

tennsareusedintheFCPA,Title15,United StatesCode,Section 78dd-3(t)(2)(A).FONDEN'S

officersand em ployeesw ere also ç6public officials''asthatterm is used underVenezuelan law .

BancodeDesarrolloEconémicoySocialdeVenezuela(I%A'NDES''Iwasthestate-
ow ned and state-controlled governm ent entity in V enezuela that was designed to prom ote

economic development and sustained growth in Venezuela. BANDES was a (çdepartment''

Scagency,''and ttinstrum entality''ofaforeign governm ent,andBAN DES'Sofficersand em ployees

w ere (çforeign ofticials,''asthoseterm sare used in the FCPA ,Title 15,United StatesCode,Section

78dd-3(9(2)(A).BANDES'SofficersandemployeeswerealsoEt
publicofficials''asthatterm is
used underV enezuelan law .

8. COBISERTA and CORPOVEX contracted w ith com panies under the CLAP

program to purchase and im portfood into Venezuela and w ere also responsibleforoverseeing the

execution ofthosecontracts.CORPOVEX also contracted w ith com paniesto purchase and import

m edicine into Venezuela and w asresponsibleforoverseeing the execution ofthose contracts.

9. D efendantAI,VA RO PULIDO VA R GA S,a/k/a G erm an Enrique R ubio Salas,

a/k/a Rc uchi,''wasa citizen ofColom bia. PULIDO VA RG AS,togetherw ith Co-conspirator 1

(defined below),controlled severalcompaniesthatobtained contractsfrom COBISERTA and

CORPOVEX to provide food and m edicine to V enezuela,including Group Grand Lim ited and

A sasiFood.
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D efendant JO SE GRE G OR IO W ELM A-M O RA was a citizen of Venezuela.

From in or around 2012 through in or around 2017,VIELM A-M OIRA w as the Governorofthe

Venezuelan State of Tachira. As Governor,V IELM A-M OIRA oversaw COBISERTA and its

contracting process. W ELM A -M OR A w as a Ciforeign official''as that term is defined in the

FCPA,Title15,UnitedStatesCode,Section78dd-3(9(2)(A),andattpublicofficial''asthatterm
isused underV enezuelan law .

11. Defendant EM M ANUEL ENRIQUE RUBIO GONZM ZEZ was a citizen of

Colom bia and the son ofALVAR O PULID O VV G AS,a/k/a G erm an Enrique Rubio Salas,

a/k/a Edcuchi-''

12. Defendant CARt,OS ROLANDO LIZCANO M ANRIQUE was a citizen of

Colom bia.

Defendant ANA GUILLERM O LUIS CGIJILLERM O'') was a citizen of

V enezuela and Spain.

Co-conspirator 1 was a citizen of Colom bia. Co-conspirator 1 and AI,VAR O

PULID O V AR GA S,a/k/a G erm an Enrique R ubio Salas,a/k/a ddcuchi,''controlled several

com panies that obtained contracts from COBISERTA and CORPOVEX to provide food and

m edicine.
to V enezuela,including Group Grand Lim ited and A sasiFood.

15. Co-conspirator2 wasa citizen ofVenezuela. Co-conspirator2 w asa (tperson''as

thatterm isusedintheFCPA,Title15,UnitedStatesCode,Section78dd-3(a).
Venezuelan Governm entOfficial1 wasa citizen ofV enezuela. From in oraround

October2014,through in or around Septem ber2020,V enezuelan G overnm entOfficial 1 was a

high-ranking official at FOND EN . From in or around Oc

'tober 2017, through in or around

Septem ber 2020, Venezuelan Governm ent Official 1 was a high-ranking official for the
Case 1:21-cr-20509-JEM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/07/2021 Page 5 of 25

Venezuelan M inistry ofFinance.From in oraround January 2014,tllrough in oraround Septem ber

2020,V enezuelan Governm ent Official 1 was a high-ranking officialofBAN DES. Venezuelan

Governm entOfficial1wasa ç&foreign official''asthatterm isdefined in theFCPA ,Title 15,U nited

States Code, Sections 78dd-3(9(2)(A),and a dlpublic official''as that term is used under
Venezuelan law .

17. V enezuelan Governm entOfficial2 w as a citizen ofV enezuela. Beginning in or

around at least July 2016, Venezuelan Governm ent Official 2 w as a public official in the

Venezuelan M inistry ofFinance. From in oraround Decem ber2017,through in oraround M arch

2020,Venezuelan Governm entOfficial2 wasa high-ranking ofticialin the Venezuelan M inistry

of Finance. Beginning in or around February 2017,V enezuelan Governm ent Official2 was a

high-ranking officialofBAN DES. Beginning in oraround June 2018,V enezuelan Governm ent

Official)wasahigh-rankingofficialofCORPOVEX.VenezuelanGovernmentOfficial2wasa
1 .

(Toreign official''asthatterm isdefined in the FCPA ,Title 15,United States Code,Section 78dd-

3(9(2)(A),anda&çpublicofficial''asthatterm isusedunderVenezuelanlaw.
CO UNT 1
Conspiracy to C om m itM oney Laundering
(18U.S.C.j1956(h))
Paragraphs l through 17 of the GeneralA llegations Section are re-alleged and

incorporated by reference asthough f'

ully setforth herein.

From in oraround July 2015,and continuing through in oraround atleast2020,in

theSouthern DislrictofFlorida,and elsew here,the defendants,

M UVA R O PULID O VAA G AS,

a/k/a RG erm an Enrique Rubio Salas,''a/k/a Rc uchi,''
JO SE G REG O RIO W ELM A-M O M ,
EM M ANUEL ENRIQUE RUBIO GONZALEZ,
CART,OS ROLANDO LIZCANO M ANRIQUE,and
AN A G UILLERM O LUIS,
Case 1:21-cr-20509-JEM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/07/2021 Page 6 of 25

did knowingly and voluntarily com bine,conspire,confederateand agreew ith each other,and other

personsknown and unknown to the Grand Jury,to com m itan offense againstthe United States,

thatis:

a. to know ingly transport,transm it,and transfer a m onetary instrum ent and funds

from a place in the U nited Statesto and through aplace outside the United States,and to a place

in theU nited Statesfrom and through a place outside the United States,w ith theintentto prom ote

the carrying on ofspecified unlawfulactivity,in violation ofTitle 18,United StatesCode,Section

1956(a)(2)(A);
b. to knowingly transporq transmit,and transfer,and attemptto transpolt transm it,
and transfer, a m onetary instrum ent and funds involving the proceeds of specified unlaw ful

activity,from aplace in theUnited Statesto and through aplace outside the United States,and to .

aplaceintheUnited Statesfrom andthrough aplaceoutsidetheUnited Stytes,knowing thatthe

fundsinvolved in the transportation,transm ission,and transferrepresented the proceeds ofsom e

unlaw fulactivity and know ing thatsuch transportation,transm ission,and transferand attem ptto

transpolt transm it,andtransferwasdesignedinwholeor'

inparttoconcealanddisguisethenature,

location,source,ownership,and controlbf the proceeds of such specified unlaw fulactivity,in

violationofTitlel8,UnitedStatesCode,Section 1956(a)(2)(B)(i);and
Itisfurtherallegedthatthespecifiedunlawfulactivityis:(a)afelonyviolationoftheFCPA
'underTitle 15,UnitedStatesCode,Section 78dd-3;and (b)anoffenseagainstaforeignnation,
specifically V enezuela,involving bribery ofa public offcial,and the m isappropriation,theA,and

em bezzlem entofpublic fundsby and forthe benefitofa public offcial,asprovided by Title 18,

UnitedStatesCode,Section 1956(c)(7)(B)(iv).
Case 1:21-cr-20509-JEM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/07/2021 Page 7 of 25

PVRPOSE OF THF CONSPIM CY

3. ltw asthepurpose ofthe conspiracy forthe ddfendantsand theirco-conspiratorsto

unlawfully erlrich them selvesby engaging in aschem eto bribe Venezuelan officialsto obtain and

retain çontractsandotherbusinessadvantages,tncludingobtainingmulti-million dollarfoodand

m edicine contracts with entities and instrum entalities ow ned and controlled by the Venezuelan

govenzm entforthe im portation and delivery offood and m edicine to'

thepeople ofVenezuela,and

to launder bribes, proceeds, and other funds related to the corrupt schem e into and through
. '-
(
accounts in the United States in orderto prom ote the illegalbribery schem e and to concealthe

nature and purpose ofthe proceedsofthe illegalbribery schem e.

M AN NER A ND M EA NS OF TIIE CO N SPIM CY

The manner and means by which ALVARO PULIDO VARGAS, a/k/a idGerm an
Enrique Rubio Salas,''a/k/a Rc uchi,''JO SE GR EG OR IO W ELM A-M OR A,EM M A M JEL

ENRIQUE RUBIO GONZAT,EZ,CART,OSFOLANDO LIZCANO MANRIQIJE,andM A

GU ILLER M O LUIS, and their co-conspirators sought to accom plish the purpose of the .
1

conspiracy included,am ong otherthings,the follow ing conductin the Southern DistrictofFlorida

and elsewhere:

Throughoutthecourse oftheconspiracy and assetforth intheparagraphsto follow ,

AI,VAR O PIJLI'
D O V AR GA S, a/k/a Germ an Enrique R ubio Salas, a/k/a dtc uchi,''

EM M ANUEL ENRIQUE RUBIO GONZALEZ, CARI,OS ROLANDO LIZCANO

MANRIQUE,ANA GUILLERM O LUiS,aswellasCo-conspirator1andotherco-conspirâtors
used num erous com panies,which they controlled,to enter into contracts w ith the Venezuelan

governm entto m anufacm re and exportboxes offood from M exico and boxes ofm edicine from

variouscountries,to im porttheboxesoffood and m edicine and distributethem w ithin V enezuela,

7
Case 1:21-cr-20509-JEM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/07/2021 Page 8 of 25

to receive m oney pursuantto the contractsaw arded by the Venezuelan governm ent,to m ake bribe

paym entsto theV enezuelan governm entofficials,including those officialsin charge ofawarding

the contracts, and ultim ately to distribute the proceeds of the corruptly obtained contracts to

promotetheillegalbribery schemeand to concealthenatureand purpose oftheproceedsofthe

illegalbribery schem e.

5. Throughoutthecourseofthe conspiracy and assetforth in theparagraphsto follow ,

At-vwuo I'ti too vwutu s, a/k/a German Enrique Rubio salas, a/k/a ''cuchi,',
EM M ANUEL ENRIQUE RUBIO GONZALEZ, CART,OS ROLANDO LIZCANO
M ANRIQUE, ANA GUILLERM O LUIS, as well as Co-conspirator 1 and other co-
conspirators, created a w eb of dozens of personal and corporate bank accounts in m ultiple

countrieswhich they used to receiveand transfer theproceedsofthe corruptly obtained contracts

w hile concealing the origin and useofthe m oniesobtained through the corruptschem e.

ln or around 2015, AT,VAR O PULID O VA RG A S, a/k/a G erm an Enrique

Rubio Salas,a/k/a Hcuchi,''EM M ANUEL ENRIQUE RUBIO GONZAt,EZ, CARLOS

ROLANDO LIZCANO M ANW QUE,Co-conspirator 1 and other co-conspiratorj initiated

effortsto obtain contracts related to the production,im portation,and distribution of food to the

Venezuelan governm ent.

A s the Governor of the V enezuelan State of Tachira, JO SE GR EG OR IO

W ELM A-M O R A oversaw the contracting process related to the importation of food into

Venezuelafordistribution to the people in the State ofTachira aspal'

tofthe CLA P program .

ln or around early to m id-2016,JO SE GR EG OR IO W ELM A-M O R A m etw ith

Co-conspiratorl and Co-conspirator2 and discussedW ELM A-M O R A'Srole in the importation

offood to the State ofTachira in Venezuela.

8
Case 1:21-cr-20509-JEM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/07/2021 Page 9 of 25

In orarotm d early to m id-2016,JO SE G RE GO RIO VIELM A-M O M m etw ith

cART,Os ROLANbO LIZCANO M ANRTQUE,Co-conspirator1,and Co-conspirator2 to

discussaproposalforthe production,im portation,and distribution ofboxes offood to the people

ofV enezuelathrough the CLA P program .

10. In or around early to m id-2016, at JO SE GR EG OR IO .W ELM A-M O R A 'S

direction,Co-conspirator2 created a proposalforthe discussed boxesoffood.

ln or around early to m id-2016, JO SE G REG O RIO VV LM A.M OM ,

CARLOS ROLANDO LIZCANO M ANRIQUE,Co-conspirator1,and Co-conspirator2 met

in Venezuela and discussed the actualcostforthe production ofthefood boxes.

12. Co-conspirator 1 agreed to m ake corrupt paym ents to JO SE GR EG OR IO

W ELM A-M O RA to obtain and retain contractsto im portand sellfood to the State ofTachira.

ln orarotm d early to m id-2016,Co-conspirator1 directed CARLO S R OLAN DO

LIZCANO M ANRIQUE andCo-conspirator2toworktogethertoproducetheboxesoffood for

im portation into V enezuela.

ln oraroundmidto 1ate-2016,JOSE GREGORIO W ELM A-M OIRA CARI,OS

ROLANDO LIZCANO M ANRIQUE, Co-conspirator 1 and Co-conspirator 2 m et with
Venezuelan Governm ent O fticials 1 and 2 in order to obtain the support and approval of

Venezuelan Governm entOfficial1and 2 foraw arding the food contractsto com paniescontrolled

by AI,VA R O PIJLID O VAR G A S,a/k/a G erm an EnriqueR ubio Salas,a/k/a dsc uchi''and Co-

Conspirator 1.

15. On or about O ctober 14,2016,Group Grand Lim ited- a com pany owned and

controlled by AI,VAR O PULID O VA RG A S, a/k/a G erm an Enrique R ubio Salas, a/k/a

Sdcuchi''and Co-conspirator l--obtained a contractfrom COBISERTA to im pot'tand distribute

9
Case 1:21-cr-20509-JEM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/07/2021 Page 10 of 25

approxim ately 10 million boxesoffood tmderthe CLAP program at$34/b0x fora totalcontract

am ountofapproxim ately $340,000,000.AlthoughJOSE GREG ORIO VIELM A-M ORA knew

the costôfproducing and importing thefoodboxeswasfarlessthan $34/box,heagreed with his

co-conspiratorsto allow COBISERTA to purchase theboxes atan inflated price so thatthe co-
/
conspirators could use th: additional flm ds to pay bribes to VIELM A-M OR A and other

Venezu8lan governm entofficials and to obtain m illions ofdollarsofcom zptproceedsfrom the

schem e.

16. ln furtherance ofthe cônspiracy,A LVA R O PU LID O VA R G A S,a/k/a G erm an

Enrique Rubio Salas,a/k/a Rcuchir''EM M ANUEL ENRIQUE RUBIO GONZALEZ,and

. '

otherswereresponsibleforpurchasing food in M exico,constructingtheboxesthatwould contain

thefood,and exporting theboxesoffood from M exico toVenezuela.

In furthefance àf the conspiracy, CARIX S ROLANDO LIZCANO

M ANRIQUE andotherswereresponsibleforreceivingtheboyesoffoodsenttoVenezuelafrom
M exico.and distributingthe'
boxesoffood within theStateofTachira.

18. In oraround mid to 1ate-2016,JOSE GREG ORIO W ELM A-M ORA m etwith

co-consptrators1 and 2 and discussed how VIELM A-M ORA would receivethebribemoney
.<

owed to him forhispartin awarding the food contractsto companiescontrolled by,and forthe

benetitof?ALVARO PULIDO VARGAS,a/k'

/aGerm an EnriqueRubioSalas,a/lt/addcuchi,''
Co-conjpirator 1 and the other co-conspirators. During the m eeting, the co-conspirators

determ ined that Co-conspirator 2 w ould serve as an interm ediaty to receive the bribe m oney on

behalf of V IELM A-M O R A. Thereafter, Co-conspirator 2 w ould forwayd,pay,transfer, and

directthosebribesto V IEL M A -M O R A asW ELM A -M O R A directed. Coiconspirator2 w ould

alsoreceivepaym entsférhispartin theillegalbribery schem e.

10
Case 1:21-cr-20509-JEM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/07/2021 Page 11 of 25

i
19 ANA GU ILLER M O LUIS,who worked for ATI
,V AR O PULID O VA RG A S,

a/k/a G erm an Enrique R ubio Salas,a/k/a Rcuchi''and Co-conspirator 1,helped create a w eb

of-dozens of compaàies and associated bank accounts in various countries for Ptltzloo
VA R GA S,Co-conspirator 1,and other co-conspiratorsto receive and m ovethe m oney received

from Venezuela aspaym entforthe cornlptly obtained food and m edicine contracts. A long these

lines,G UILLERM O helped Co-conspirator2 open bank accounts,which Co-conspirator2 used

to'receive,pay,and transfer funds as a bribe interm edialy forW ELM A -M O R A,and to collect

Co-conspirator 2's share of the coa upt proceeds. Likewise, GU ILLERM O helped create

com panies and open associated bank accounts to allow other co-conspirators to receive their

portion ofthecorruptproceedsfrom theillegalbribery schem e. GUILLERM O also helped create

fakeand fraudulentcontractsand otherdocumentstojustify thetransfersoffunds,bribes,and

corruptproceedsrelated to the schem e.

20. From on or aboutD ecem ber 12,2016,through on or aboutApril10,2018,JO SE

GREGORIO W ELM A-M OR A and Co-corispirator2 received approximately $17,256,935 in

bribes and corrupt proceeds in exchange for VIELM A -M O IG 'S assistance and influence in

aw arding food contractsfrom COBISERTA and CORPOVEX andproviding businessadvantages

for the benefit of com panies controlled by A LVAR O PULID O V AR G AS, a/lk/a G erm an

Enrique Rubio Salas, a/k/a Rcuchil', EM M ANUEL ENRIQUE RUBIO GONZALEZ,

CARI,OS ROLM DO LIZCANO M ANRIQUE,ANA GUILLERM O LUIS,Co-conspirator
1,and others.

From on or aboutD ecem ber 12,2016,through on or aboutJuly 17,2017,JO SE

G REG O RIO W ELM A-M O R A and Co-conspirator2 caused w ire transfers of approxim ately

$6,355,158inproceedsfrom theillegalbribery schemeto abankaccountin theSouthernDistrict

1

1.
1
Case 1:21-cr-20509-JEM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/07/2021 Page 12 of 25

of Florida owned and controlled by Co-conspirator2. A m ong these wire transfers,on or abèut

February 11, 2017, Co-conspirator 2, while in the United States, caused a w ire transfer of

approxim ately $1,600,000 from a bank accounthe controlled in Panama to a bank accounthe
controlled in the Southern DistrictofFlorida in orderto prom otetheillegalbribery schem e and to

facilitate the transferofbribepaym entsto W ELM A-M O R A.

22. On or about February 14, 2017, Group Grand Lim ited,a com pany owned and

controlled by AT,VA R O PULID O VA R GA S, a/lt/a G erm an Enrique R ubio Salas, a/k/a

Rcuchi'' and Co-conspirator 1 obtained a second contract to im port and distribute w ithin

V enezuela approxim ately 10 m illion boxes offood through theCLAP program forapproxim ately

$369,900,000.'
23. ln addition to the food contracts,in or around early 2017, AI,VA R O PU LID O

VAR G A S,a/k/a G erm an Enrique R ubio Salas,a/k/a Sdcuchi''and'

C o-conspirator 1 soughtto

obtain contracts to expol'tm edicine to,and distribute it w ithin,V enezuela through the CLAP

program through thepaym entofbribesto V enezuelan governm entofficials,including Venezuelan

Governm entO fficials 1and 2.

24. On or about M arch 31, 2017, G roup Grand Lim ited, a com pany ow ned and

controlled by AI,V AR O PULIDO V AR GA S, a/k/a G erm an Enrique R ubio Salas, a/k/a

ticuchi''and Co-conspirator 1 obtained a contract from CORPOVEX for approximately

$70,889,234toimportanddistributemedioinein VenezuelathroughtheCLAP program .
On oraboutM ay 22,2017,Group GrandLim ited,acompany ow ned and controlled

by AI,VA RO PULID O VA RG AS,a/k/a G erm an EnriqueRubio Salas, a/k/a Rcuchi''and Co-

Conspirator 1 obtained a second contract from CORPOV EX, this one for approxim ately

$74,990,942,to importand distributem edicineinVenezuelathroughtheCLAP program .

12
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In or around July 2017,m em bers of the conspiracy received w ire transfers from

FOI
NDEN totalingapproximately $33,750,295toan accountinAntiguaheld inthenameofGroup
Grand Lim ited, a company ow ned and controlled by AT,VA RO PU LID O V AR G AS, a/k/a

G erm an Enrique Rubio Salas,a/k/a ddcuchi''and Co-conspirator1,aspaym enton the corruptly

obtained food and m edicine contractsobtained from the Venezuelan governm ent.
From in oraround January 2018,through in oraround M arch 2018,m em bersofthe

conspiracy received wire transfers from BANDES totaling approxim ately $105,001,292 to an
accountin United A rab Em iratesheld in the nam eofA sasiFood,acom pany ow ned and controlled

by ALVA RO PULID O VA RG AS,a/k/a Germ an Enrique R ubio Salas,alkla ddcuchi''and Co-

Conspirator 1,aspaym enton the corruptly obtained food and m edicine contracts obtained from

the V enezuelan governm ent.

28. From in oraround January 20l8,through in oraround M ay 2018,m em bers ofthe

conspiracy received w ire transfers from BA ND ES totaling approxim ately 6248,727,831 to an

accountin United Arab Em katesheld in thenam e ofA sasiFood,acom papy ownpd and controlled

by AI,VAR O PULIDO VAR GA S,a/lk/a G erm an E nrique Rubio Salas,a/lk/a Kcuchi''and Co-

Conspirator 1,as paym enton the corruptly obtained food and m edicine contracts obtained from

the Venezuelan governm ent.

29. D uring the course of the conspiracy, AT,VM R.

O PULID O VA RG A S, a/k/a

G erm an Enrique R ubio Sal>s, a/lk/a Gc uchi,'' CARI,O S R O LAND O LIZCAN O

M ANRIQUE,and Co-conspirator1,using inparttheproceedsreceivedbyGroup GrandLim ited

andA sasiFoodspursuantto thecolruptly obtained food and m edicine contracts and using m onies

from other com panies undertheir control,wire transferred,and caused to be w ire transferred,at

least$10,000,000 in proceeds and othermonies directly to bank accounts in the United States
Case 1:21-cr-20509-JEM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/07/2021 Page 14 of 25

ow ned,controiled by and forthe benefitofco-conspiratorsand others. These w ire transfersw ere

m ade in orderto concealand disguise the nature,location,source,ownership,and controlofthe

proceeds and to promote the bribery scheme. At least$5,500,000 ofthose funds were wired
directly into the Southern DistrictofFlorida.

30. D uring the course of the conspiracy, AT,VAR O PULID O VA RG A S, a/lc/a

Germ anEnriqueRubioSalas,a/lk/aSdcuchi,''and Co-conspiraior1wiretransferred,andcaused

tobewiretransferred,on theirbehalf,atleast$170,000,000inproceedsandotherm oniesthrough
correspondentbanksintheUnited Statestobarlk accountsow ned,controlledby,and forthebenefit

of co-conspirators;food suppliers,transportation logistic companies,and others. These wire

transfersw ere m ade in orderto concealand disguise the nature,location,source,ownership,and

controloftheproceeds and to prom otethe bribery schem e.

During the course of the conspiracy, Group Grand Lim ited and AsasiFoods,

com panies owned and controlled by ALVA RO PU LID O VAR GA S,a/k/a G erm an Enrique

R ubio Salas,a/k/a lcuchi''and Co-conspirator 1,specifically w ire transferred,and caused to be

wiretransferred,atleaàt$22,000,000 in proceeds and otherm oniesto afreightforwarding and

shipping com pany located in M exico,through oorrespondentbank aocountsin the U nited States,

to pay for costs associated w ith fulflling the COBISERTA and CORPOVEX contracts.These

w ire transfersw ere m ade in orderto concealand disguise the nature,location,source,ow nership,

and controloftheproceedsand to prom ote the bribery schem e.

32. During the course of the conspiracy, Group Grand Lim ited and AsasiFoods,

com panies ow ned and controlled by M UVAR O PU LIDO VA RG A S,a/k/a G erm an Enrique
.

R ubio Salas,a/k/a Sdcuchi''and Co-conspirator 1 specifically wire transferred,and caused to be

wire transferred,atleast$50,000,000 in proceedsand othermoniesto a food service company

14
Case 1:21-cr-20509-JEM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/07/2021 Page 15 of 25

located in M exico,through correspondentbank accounts in the United States,to pay for costs

associatedwithfulfillingtheCOBIIERTA andCORPOVEX contracts.Thesewiretransferswere

m ade in orderto concealand disguise the nature,location,source,ownership,and controlofthe

proceedsand to prom ote the bribery schem e.

33. During the course ofthe conspiracy,Venezuela'sability to pay foreign com panies

w as lim ited due to a shortage of U .S.dollars. Therefore,in furtherance of the schem e, Co-

Conspirator 1 and ALV AR O PULID O V AR GA S,a/k/a Germ an E nrique R ubio Salas,a/k/a

ddcuchi''engaged in businessto refine and sellgold on behalf of Venezuela,so thatV enezuela

could obtain additionalU .S.dollars or euros to m ake the paym ents owed to foreign com panies,

including to Group Grand Lim ited and AsasiFoods under the corruptly obtained food and
m edicine contracts.

34. On or about M arch 6, 2019, Co-conspirator 2, while in the United States,

authorized thé transfer of funds at the direction of and for the benefit of JO SE GR EG ORIO

W ELM A-M O R A from a bank account in the Southern D istrict of Florida to individuals and

entitiesthatW ELM A -M O R A specified,al1in furtherance ofénd to prom otethebribel'y schem e.

35. On or about A ugust 5, 2019, Co-conspirator 2, while in the United States,

authorized a credit card transaction using Co-conspirator 2's credit card in order to pay

approximately $4,499 to atravelwebsitefora.closerelativeofJOSE GREGORIO VIELM A-

M O R A,atthe direction ofand forthe benefk ofW ELM A-M O R A,allin furtherance ofand to

prom ote the bribery schem e.

A1linviolationofTitle18,UnitedStatesCode,Section1956(h).

15
Case 1:21-cr-20509-JEM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/07/2021 Page 16 of 25

CO UNT S 2-5
Laundering ofM onetary Instrum ents
(18U.S.C.j1956(a)(2)(A))
Paragraphs 1 through 17 of the General A llegations Section and paragraphs 1

through 35 ofCount 1arere-alleged and incorporated by reference asthough fully setfol'th herein.

2. On or aboutthe dates set forth in each Count below ,in the Southern Districtof

Florida and elsewhere,the defendànts,

ALVA RO PULIDO VAR G AS,

a/k/a RG erm an EnriqueR ubio Salas,''a/k/a tdcuchi,''
JOSE GREGORIO W ELM A-M OIW
EM M ANUEL ENRIQUE RUBIO GONZALEZ,
CART,OS ROLANDO LIZCANO M ANRIQUE,and
AN A G UH ULERM O LUIS,

know ingly transported, transm itted, and transferred, and aided and abetted, and caused the

transport, transm ission, and transf4r of, and attem pted to transport, transm it, and transfer, a

m onetary instrum entand funds from a place in the United States to and tlzrough a place outside
.

the United Statesand to a place in the U nited States from and through a place outside the United

States,withtheintenttopromotethecarryingonofspecifiedunlawfulactivity,thatis,(a)afelony
violation oftheFCPA underTitle 15,United States Code,Section 7881d-3 and (b)an offense
against a '
foreign nation,specifically Venezuela, involving bribery of a public offcial, and the

m isappropriation,theft and embezzlem entof public funds by and forthe benefitofa public

official,pursuanttoTitle18,UnitedStatesCode,Section1956(c)(7)@ )(iv).

16
Case 1:21-cr-20509-JEM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/07/2021 Page 17 of 25

C ount A pproxim ateD ate D escription öfTransaction

2 D ecem ber23,2016 W ire transfer in the am ount of approxim ately

$1,599,965.00 in U.S. currency from an account in
Panam a to a bank accountending in 9752,located in the
United States, specifically in the Southern D istrict of
Florida
3 February 11,2017 W ire transfer in the am ount of approxim ately
$1,599,965.00 in U.S. currency from an account in
Panam a to a bank account ending in 9752,located in the
United States, specifically in the Southern D istrict of
Florida
4 July 5,2017 W ire transfer in the am ount of approxim ately
' $2,500,000.00 in U.S. currency from an account in
j Antigua and Barbuda to a bank account ending in 9752,
located in the U nited States,specifically in the Southern
DistrictofFlorida
5 August23,2017 W iretransferintheamountofapproximately $630,000.00
in U.S.currency from an accountin A ntigua and Barbuda
to a bank account ending in 9752,located in the U nited
States,specifically in the Southern D istrictofFlorida

InviolationofTitle18,UnitedStatesCode,Sections1956(a)(2)(A)and2.
FOR FEITURE
(18U.S.C.j982(a)(1))
The allegations ofthis Indictm entarehereby re-alleged and by thisreference fully

incorporated herein forthepurpose ofalleging forfeitureto theUnited StatesofA m erica ofcertain

property in which any of the defendants, AT,VAR O PU LID O VAR G AS, a/k/a RG erm an

EnriqueR ubio Salas,''a/k/a Rcuchi,''JOSE GR EG OR IO W ELM A-M O M ,EM M AN UEL

ENRIQUE RUBIO GONZALEZ. CARI,OS ROLANDO LIZCANO M AN RTQUE, and

A NA G UILLERM O LUIS,have an interest.

2. Upon conviction of a violation of Title 18,United States Code,Section 1956,as

alleged in this Indictm ent,the defendants shallforfeitto the U nited States any property,realor

17
Case 1:21-cr-20509-JEM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/07/2021 Page 18 of 25

personal,involved in such offense,and any property traceable to sttch property,pursuantto Title

18,UnitedStatesCode,Section982(a)(1).
Thepropertysubjecttoforfeitureasaresultoftheallegedoffensesincludes,butis
notlim ited to,asum ofapproximately $1,607,626,307.19 in U.S.currency,which representsthe
amountoffunbsinvolvedintheviolationsofTitle18,United StatesCode,Section 1956alleged
inthislndictment,andwhichmaybesoughtasaforfeituremoneyjudgment.
4. Ifanyofthepropertydescribedaboveasbeingsubjecttoforfeiture,asaresultofb
any actorom ission ofthe defendants:

a.. cannotbe located upon the exercise ofdue diligence;

b. hasbeen transferred orsold to,ordeposited w ith,athird party;

hasbeenplacedbeyondthejurisdictionoftheCoul'
t;
d. hasbeen substantially dim inished in value;or

has been com m ingled with otherproperty thatcannotbe divided w ithout .

difficulty;

theU nited States shallbe entitled to forfeiture ofsubstituteproperty,undertheprovisions of

Title2l,UnitedStatesCode,Section853j9.

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Case 1:21-cr-20509-JEM Document 1 Entered on FLSD Docket 10/07/2021 Page 19 of 25

AllpursuanttoTitle18,UnitedStatesCode,Section982(a)(1),andtheproceduressetfol'
th
in Title 21,U nited States Code,Section 853,as incorporated by Title 18,United States Code,

Section 982(b)(1).
A TRU E BILL

FO REPE

1
/ 3 .F >a
& ACTAGx'
UN
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Tvz
ESAzTTORNEY SEPH S.BEEM STERBOER
ACTm G CHIEF,FR AUD SECTION
cltlM m At,DIVISION

4 ZM
K urtK .'L n elm er A lexanderJ.K ram er
A ssistantUnited StatesA ttorney TrialAttorney

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