The former socialist mayor of San Francisco del Zulia and ex-governor of the state, Omar Prieto, along with Venezuelan businessmen Roberto Añez, Juan Ramírez, and David Brillembourg, are under investigation for allegedly misappropriating $400 million from the Chinese Fund in Venezuela that was intended for the construction of a waste incineration plant. This shocking information was obtained through a corruption investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of State.
Ciuproca: The Trust at Bancoex
Roberto Añez, David Brillembourg, and Juan Ramírez, in partnership with Omar Prieto, established a trust called Ciudad de Progreso Alpha I (Ciuproca) at Bancoex. This trust allowed companies controlled by Añez and Ramírez to receive over $400 million from the Chinese Fund. However, it was discovered that all the funds were diverted to the personal accounts of Añez, Ramírez, and Brillembourg.
Roberto Añez, David Brillembourg, and Juan Ramírez
According to investigations, David Brillembourg established a connection with Omar Prieto through his brother-in-law, Ernesto Pineda. This relationship enabled them to scam and defraud Venezuelans out of more than $400 million.
The Collaboration of Añez and Ramírez
Roberto Añez, serving as the financial operator and bookkeeper for Brillembourg, reached out to Juan Ramírez to implement the scheme used in this scam. Ramírez, who previously served as treasurer of Banco Occidental de Descuento (BOD) and is now the owner of Nodus International Bank based in Miami and Puerto Rico, was instrumental in establishing a web of companies to channel money from the trust at Bancoex.
Añez and Ramírez utilized four main companies to receive settlements from the trust at Bancoex. Ramírez controlled the companies Papillon and Sonderlan, while Añez managed ABO International and Waste Pro Solutions. Añez used U.S. banks, and Ramírez utilized Portuguese banks, including Banco Espírito Santo.
Money Movements and Bribery Payments
Investigations revealed that the money received through these companies was transferred to Brillembourg’s financial group on the island of Saint Lucia, known as BrillaBank. From this offshore bank, commission payments were made to public officials, including Omar Prieto and José Luis Parada.
The U.S. Department of Justice conducted an investigation into Añez’s activities and his companies. Initially, he was charged with unlicensed money transfers and tax evasion, resulting in a fine of over $3 million. However, investigators made an error, as Añez, along with Ramírez and Brillembourg, were actually involved in money laundering and bribery operations.
Warren Rogers, a special agent of the IRS, detailed in a 31-page lawsuit how payments and transfers were made between Venezuela, Mexico, Panama, the Netherlands, Portugal, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Switzerland, Spain, and Aruba. These money movements occurred through a network of companies, some of which were known for their involvement in hotel construction and real estate in Miami, owned by Venezuelan investors, while others appeared to be fictitious enterprises.
One of the seized accounts belongs to International Services and Supplies Inc. (I.S. & S), located at Añez’s residence in Coral Gables, Florida. This account received deposits totaling $9.2 million from companies like ABO International and Waste Pro Solutions, which had Añez as one of their legal representatives. These deposits suggest that Añez was the sender and beneficiary of the transactions. The funds from this account were used to purchase imported cars, a private jet owned by Añez and Brillembourg, equipment, real estate, and other luxury items.
The case against Omar Prieto, Roberto Añez, Juan Ramírez, and David Brillembourg is ongoing. Investigations by the U.S. Department of State have uncovered a web of corruption and embezzlement of millions of dollars, affecting resources intended for infrastructure development in Venezuela.
The thorough investigation has revealed concerning details about the businesses of Roberto Añez, Juan Ramírez, and David Brillembourg. These Venezuelan businessmen have found themselves entangled in investigations and controversies related to suspicious financial activities.
Operations in Florida Under Suspicion
During the investigation, it was discovered that a seized account belonged to the company International Services and Supplies Inc. (I.S. & S), registered at Roberto Añez’s residence on San Juan Drive, Coral Gables, Florida. However, inquiries revealed that no activities described by the registered businesses were taking place at that address. This raises questions about the true nature of Añez’s operations at that location.
Another partner of Añez and Brillembourg, Juan Ramírez, has been involved in a lucrative currency exchange business through his banking platform in the United States, Nodus International Bank. However, in October 2022, this bank was found guilty of violating sanctions imposed on Venezuela by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). This situation heightens doubts and controversies surrounding Ramírez’s business dealings.
After the collapse of the BrillaBank financial group, David Brillembourg sought the support of the financial group of Julio Herrera Velutini in Puerto Rico, which included Bancredito International Bank, Banvelca CA, and Brittania Financial Group. However, this financial group has also vanished, and Herrera Velutini faces accusations of bribing the then-governor of Puerto Rico, Wanda Vázquez, who is currently undergoing trial. Additionally, Herrera Velutini is under house arrest.
Juan Ramírez, after parting ways with Brillembourg and Añez, acquired Nodus International Bank in partnership with Tomás Niembro Concha. Currently, Ramírez is also under investigation for money laundering and is being processed for dissolution by the Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions (OCIF) in Puerto Rico. His legal troubles raise further suspicions about his financial activities.
According to investigations, brothers Roberto and Jorge Añez, along with Roberto’s son, Aleczander Añez, have been involved in money laundering for individuals connected with power in Venezuela. The Añez family owns the airline Avior and has utilized access to cryptocurrencies at preferential prices provided by the Superintendence of National Crypto Assets and Related Activities (Sunacrip). Moreover, they have delegated the management of private flights and yacht rentals through MWC Charter & Concierge LLC and Miami Luxury Yacht Group Co., capitalizing on the needs of corrupt individuals linked to them.
Roberto Añez and Jorge Dellán have orchestrated a scheme of corruption to launder and steal money from Venezuelans. They have channeled hundreds of millions of dollars to businessmen aligned with Tareck El Aissami and Joselit Ramírez through DL Services BV, where Dellán was the administrator, according to investigations against them in the United States. Currently, both Añez and Dellán are being investigated by Europol and the Southern District Attorney’s Office in Florida for money laundering and bribery charges, violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
Roberto Añez and Jorge Dellán, in their network of corruption and money laundering, have had as primary clients Pedro Ferrer of Lloyd Sudamericano CA and Jesús Vergara Betancourt, who has been a prominent contractor for the Corporación Venezolana de Guayana and Venalum.
Jesús Vergara Betancourt
The investigation surrounding the businesses of Roberto Añez, Juan Ramírez, and David Brillembourg has uncovered a series of suspicious activities and shady connections. These Venezuelan businessmen face serious legal scrutiny, and their ties to money laundering and corruption cases have caught the attention of authorities in both the United States and Europe. The development of this case and the potential trials that may follow will reveal more details about the irregularities in the dealings of these individuals.