Former U.S. Rep. David Rivera Sentenced to 10 Years for Secret Lobbying

Former U.S. Representative David Rivera received a 10-year federal prison sentence for his involvement in a covert $50 million lobbying effort supporting the Venezuelan government during the Trump administration. The sentencing occurred in a federal court in Downtown Miami after a seven-week trial resulted in his conviction in May. A jury found Rivera guilty of all charges.

Condemnation by Federal Officials

Federal officials criticized Rivera, emphasizing it as a betrayal to the South Florida community he once represented. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Jason A. Reding Quiñones, stated, “He betrayed the South Florida community he once represented.” Reding Quiñones highlighted the seriousness of Rivera’s actions, saying, “This was not some paperwork violation, or a simple mistake.”A person’s title or political connections do not place them beyond accountability,” said Charles Miller of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Florida Field Office.

Rivera and political consultant Esther Nuhfer were convicted on all charges, including failing to register as foreign agents and conspiracy to commit money laundering. They secretly worked for the Venezuelan government through a multimillion-dollar contract with Rivera’s company from 2017 to 2018. Following Rivera’s conviction, the jury decided that his properties in Doral and the Florida Keys should be forfeited to the government.

Influencing U.S. Policy

An 11-count indictment against Rivera, unsealed in 2022, alleged that Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez recruited him to use his Republican connections to influence U.S. policy on Venezuela, easing its sanctions. Rivera and Nuhfer attempted to sway significant political figures like Marco Rubio and Pete Sessions, without disclosing their consulting agreement with a U.S.-based affiliate of PDVSA, Venezuela’s state oil company. Prosecutors argued Rivera’s political reputation as an anti-Communist would have suffered if the secret had been revealed.

Evidence presented included messages from an encrypted chat group called “MIA,” with participants using code words like “bus driver” for Maduro and “melons” for millions of dollars. Brett Skiles from the FBI’s Miami Field Office commented, “Operating illegally and covertly on behalf of a foreign government has consequences.”

Prosecutors also accused Rivera and his associates of trying to cover their tracks once investigations began. This included backdating documents and creating false agreements, such as one justifying a $3.75 million wire transfer for a South Florida company maintaining Raúl Gorrín’s luxury yacht.

Defense’s Argument

Rivera’s defense argued he acted in good faith and believed his activities were commercially exempt from foreign-agent registration requirements. They claimed the contract aimed to re-engage ExxonMobil with Venezuela and was intended to replace Nicolás Maduro with leadership friendlier to the U.S. “He was working every possible angle to get Nicolás Maduro out,” defense attorney Ed Shohat stated.

Rivera, who served one term in Congress after his 2010 election, had previously held a senior position in the Florida Legislature. Among the trial’s witnesses were Rubio and Sessions, who only learned of Rivera’s contract with PDVSA’s affiliate post agreement.