Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Rivera Gets 10 Years in Venezuela Lobbying Case
David Rivera used to be a congressman from Florida.
A jury found him guilty of crimes connected to a secret effort to influence U.S. policy for Venezuela.
Prosecutors said the effort was tied to a $50 million contract and that Rivera hid his lobbying work.
Rivera’s lawyers said he thought the work was legal and did not need to be reported.
A judge sentenced him to 10 years in prison.
His lawyers plan to appeal the decision.
Rivera has also asked for a presidential pardon.
He faces additional federal charges in a related case.
Former Florida congressman David Rivera was sentenced to 10 years in prison Friday.
A jury convicted Rivera in May on all counts, including failing to register as a foreign agent and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Prosecutors said he secretly worked on a $50 million lobbying campaign for Venezuela during the first Trump administration.
Rivera’s lawyers argued the contract was legitimate commercial work and said he believed he did not need to register; they plan to appeal.
Judge Melissa Damian rejected Rivera’s request to lower the sentencing guidelines, and Rivera also faces related federal charges in Washington, D.C.
- Who
- David Rivera, a former Miami-area congressman, was sentenced by Judge Melissa Damian.
- What
- Rivera received a 10-year prison sentence after a jury convicted him on all counts in a case involving an alleged secret lobbying campaign for Venezuela.
- When
- The sentencing took place Friday; the jury found Rivera guilty in May.
- Where
- The sentencing was in federal court in Miami.
- Why
- Prosecutors said Rivera failed to register his lobbying work and conspired to commit money laundering; his defense argued he believed the work did not require registration.
Prosecutors and judge
Rivera and his defense
Whether Rivera’s work was illegal lobbying
Prosecutors and judge
Prosecutors said Rivera used a consulting contract with PDV USA as cover for undisclosed lobbying on behalf of Venezuela and argued he was required to register as a foreign agent.
Rivera and his defense
Rivera’s attorneys said the contract focused on bringing ExxonMobil back to Venezuela, which they described as commercial work generally exempt from registration requirements.
Purpose of Rivera’s political contacts
Prosecutors and judge
Prosecutors said Rivera used political connections to help Venezuela’s government normalize relations with the United States and conceal his activities.
Rivera and his defense
The defense said Rivera’s meetings with Marco Rubio and Pete Sessions were aimed at encouraging less hostile Venezuelan leadership, not helping Nicolás Maduro.
Appropriate sentence
Prosecutors and judge
Prosecutors urged a stiff sentence, and Judge Melissa Damian described the case as money laundering and rejected Rivera’s request to lower the sentencing guidelines.
Rivera and his defense
The defense argued that Rivera should not spend a long time in prison for failing to file a registration form; supporters also asked for leniency.
- Sentence
- 10 years in prison
- Defendant
- David Rivera, 61, former Florida congressman
- Jury verdict
- Guilty on all counts in May
- Contract amount
- $50 million
- Contract duration
- Three months
- Company involved
- PDV USA, a New York-based affiliate of Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA
- Next steps
- Rivera's attorneys plan to appeal; he also applied for a presidential pardon in June
- Additional case
- Rivera faces related federal charges in Washington, D.C.