World · Latin America · 2 hrs ago
Alvaro Pulido taken into US custody in Venezuelan bribery case
Alvaro Pulido, a Colombian-born businessman, has been taken into US custody after years of being wanted in a bribery investigation.
US prosecutors allege that he and his business partner, Alex Saab, used offshore companies to funnel bribes to allies of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.
They say the alleged payments were tied to contracts to import food, medicine and low-cost housing in Venezuela.
Pulido was indicted in a Miami federal court in 2019 and again in 2021.
He was arrested in Venezuela in 2023 during a crackdown on corruption at the state-run oil company PDVSA.
Saab was deported to the US in May and later pleaded guilty in a related case, agreeing to cooperate with investigators and forfeit $195 million.
Pulido is scheduled to make his initial court appearance in Miami on Tuesday, but officials have not said how he came into US custody.
Alvaro Pulido has been taken into US custody in a Venezuelan bribery case, officials said.
US prosecutors allege Pulido and his business partner Alex Saab paid bribes to Venezuelan officials for state contracts.
Pulido was indicted in Miami federal court in 2019 and again in 2021.
He is scheduled to make his initial court appearance Tuesday in Miami.
Saab pleaded guilty in a related case and agreed to cooperate with US authorities and forfeit $195 million.
- Who
- Alvaro Pulido, a Colombian-born businessman and longtime business partner of Alex Saab.
- What
- He was taken into US custody in a bribery investigation. Prosecutors allege he and Saab arranged bribes for Venezuelan officials.
- When
- Officials said Sunday that he had been taken into custody; his initial court appearance was scheduled for Tuesday.
- Where
- He is in US custody and is scheduled to appear in federal court in Miami.
- Why
- US prosecutors allege that he and Saab used bribes to secure Venezuelan state contracts for importing food, medicine and low-cost housing.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
His alleged actions show a blatant disregard to the Venezuelan people by corrupting government programs intended to provide critical food, medicine, and housing for personal enrichment and exploiting the American financial system to do it
No amount of time or distance will stop
Pulido was indicted in Miami federal court as part of an investigation involving Alex Saab.
Pulido was indicted again in Miami federal court.
Pulido was arrested in Venezuela during a crackdown on corruption at state-run oil company PDVSA.
Alex Saab was deported to the US by Delcy Rodríguez.
Saab pleaded guilty in a related bribery case and agreed to cooperate and forfeit $195 million.
US officials said Pulido had been taken into US custody after an investigation led by the DEA, FBI and HSI.
- Reward
- Up to $10 million for information leading to Pulido’s arrest
- Indictments
- Miami federal court, 2019 and 2021
- Alleged contracts
- More than $2 billion, according to the Guardian
- Scheduled court appearance
- Tuesday, Miami
- Saab forfeiture agreement
- $195 million in criminal proceeds
Sources
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