A video has gone viral. The context is a commercial flight from London to Madrid earlier this week, where the primary bully of Derwick Associates, Alejandro Betancourt, was identified by a Venezuelan passenger. At Barajas Airport, Betancourt was politely reminded that his destination—much like Alex Saab’s—is sealed. His body language and facial expressions were not indicative of a billionaire at the top of his game. His reaction clearly conveys that he knows the police could touch him on the shoulder at any moment, anywhere.
Betancourt is a well-known figure among Venezuelans who have suffered from blackouts and their repercussions. His notoriety—as a poster boy for chavista corruption—is widespread. There are over six million Venezuelans displaced, living in forced exile. The world can quickly shrink for bullies like Betancourt when there are so many victims of their actions.
As the brave lady told Betancourt that justice will catch up with him, he replied, “We can talk about it if you want, but that’s not how it works.” Fortunately, the hatred towards these bullies is relentless:
Since he secured 12 no-bid contracts to resolve energy generation in Venezuela over a decade ago, Betancourt and his criminal associates at Derwick Associates have retained, in the U.S. alone:
– Al Cárdenas;
– Héctor Torres;
– José de María;
– Frank Holder and María José Tobar (FTI Consulting);
– Michael Volkov;
– Adán Kaufmann;
– Peter Fritsch and Glenn Simpson (Fusion GPS);
– Brian Ballard;
– Jon Venta;
– Frank Wohl;
– Rudy Giuliani;
– Tomás Clara.
Betancourt maintains his innocence but has spent millions of stolen money keeping at least 14 of the “best” in the United States busy, not only in civil trials but, crucially, involved in aggressive lobbying with the Department of Justice, the Treasury, the FBI, and U.S. media. Betancourt is the number two co-conspirator in a $1.2 billion money laundering scheme that sent his main associate, Francisco Convit, fleeing, hence he must be defended to the hilt. There is a sealed indictment hanging over him, and he knows it.
Betancourt and Convit played a pivotal role in a separate $4.25 billion money laundering scheme involving PDVSA, Rafael Ramírez, Nervis Villalobos, and Luis and Ignacio Oberto.
Derwick’s legal advisor has also been called to provide detailed explanations to prosecutors from the FBI and the Department of Justice due to the $1 billion overpricing related to energy contracts executed by Missouri-based Pro Energy Services.
Then there is Betancourt’s dispute with Swiss, *with the “financial watchdog” Swiss* (he was a Swiss banker until recently). In Switzerland, Betancourt has had to engage the “best lawyers” (Prof. Dr. Peter Nobel and Dr. Christoph Peter) that stolen money can buy. This site can report that officials from the Swiss police’s financial crimes unit are investigating Betancourt’s activities.
Convit’s mother, a long-time associate of Betancourt, was subjected to a seizure by the Guardia di Finanza due to money laundering. Add Italy to the jurisdictions where lawyers must be retained. Betancourt and company are well-known at GdF.
The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office of Spain is another place where Betancourt’s dealings are of meticulous interest. And Andorra? Yes, there too; in fact, the evidence published by this site shows that Betancourt’s small arrangement with Nervis Villalobos stems from a criminal investigation there.
Colombia and Canada also posed some headaches after Betancourt and Convit decided to launch a hostile takeover of Pacific Rubiales.
Counting Venezuela and Sweden—where Betancourt is tied to FSB partners in Nynas—there are at least nine jurisdictions where lawyers have had to be hired or are being engaged. Do these sound like the needs of an innocent man?