David Rivera, a former Republican congressman and ally of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Friday for concealing a $50 million lobbying campaign on behalf of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro regime during the first Trump administration, according to fortune.com. Rivera, 61, has been jailed since his conviction in May for conspiracy to commit money laundering and failing to register as a foreign agent.
The sentencing followed testimony from President Donald Trump’s Secretary of State and Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas, as well as a top Washington lobbyist, who confirmed Rivera never disclosed his large consulting contract with a U.S.-based affiliate of Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA. Judge Melissa Damian criticized Rivera for betraying his life’s mission, emphasizing that the money came directly from the Maduro regime. Rivera was initially charged in 2022 under President Joe Biden’s administration.
The case sheds light on foreign influence operations targeting U.S. policy toward Latin America, particularly Miami’s role as a hub for both anti-communist activists and corruption within its exile communities. It also highlights the challenges in enforcing foreign lobbying laws, as charges of illegal foreign lobbying have declined since Trump’s return to office. Rivera’s conviction underscores ongoing concerns about covert efforts to sway U.S. political decisions through undisclosed financial arrangements.
Rivera’s 10-year sentence was handed down by Judge Melissa Damian on October 2, 2026, marking a significant legal outcome in the enforcement of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) related to Latin American influence campaigns.