Ex-Congressman Convicted as Unregistered Venezuela Agent

A Miami federal jury convicted a former U.S. congressman and a lobbyist on May 1, 2026, of acting as unregistered agents for the Venezuelan government while securing a $50 million contract and laundering millions in related payments.

The conviction affects the two individuals directly, exposing them to penalties under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). Per the U.S. Department of Justice release, the case involves undisclosed lobbying efforts that funneled millions of dollars through money laundering schemes.

FARA requires registration for anyone acting as an agent of a foreign principal in political or public relations activities, a rule that applies to thousands of lobbyists and consultants in Washington annually, based on the Justice Department's public FARA database which logs over 1,000 active registrations.

Prior to the conviction, the defendants operated without registering their activities, allowing undisclosed influence on U.S. policy toward Venezuela. Now, following the guilty verdict, they face sentencing in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, with a hearing scheduled within standard federal timelines, typically 90 days post-verdict per federal court procedures.

The conviction triggers mandatory sentencing guidelines under FARA, which carry up to five years in prison per count and fines up to $250,000. It also prompts the Justice Department to review related financial records for asset forfeiture, potentially recovering laundered funds tied to the $50 million contract.

Additionally, the case advances to appellate options for the defendants, requiring them to file notices within 14 days of sentencing under Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure.

The Justice Department has pursued 12 FARA-related cases since 2020, per its public enforcement records, marking this as the latest in efforts to curb unregistered foreign lobbying. The original FARA statute dates to 1938, enacted to counter propaganda during World War II.