In recent days, a campaign supported by Venezuelan businessman Carlos Kauffmann against the Añez family has been developing across various internet portals. Kauffmann is historically linked to the Añez family through their former partnership in the airline Avior, with whom he has since had a falling out amidst ongoing legal conflicts.
The campaign consists of publishing various pieces of information against the Añez family, some of which are outdated and presented as recent, while others are distorted. This occurs despite the “connections” that the Añez family, owners of the airline, may have had with the Venezuelan regime.
The Financier
Carlos Eduardo Kauffmann is remembered for his role years ago in pressuring Venezuelan businessman Guido Antonini Wilson in the United States not to disclose the origins and destinations of money seized in Argentina, intended to fund Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s presidential campaign, as part of a contribution from the Venezuelan regime. Kauffmann served a four-year prison sentence in the United States after being convicted of acting illegally as an agent of a foreign government.
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The campaign against the Añez family has involved portals controlled by politician Leocenis García.
Leocenis García
It is important to highlight that the accusations against the Añez family have not been confirmed and no concrete evidence backing these claims has been presented. Furthermore, the involvement of Kauffmann and García in this campaign raises serious doubts about the credibility of the published information.
In this particular case, it is essential to consider the backgrounds of those involved in the campaign against the Añez family. Truth should always be the primary goal of any information.
The Content of the Campaign
One of the misleading reports against the Añez family states:
“Stormy times are ahead for Avior Airlines. Once the strongest private airline in the country, it now faces battles on multiple fronts that could lead to its disappearance, similar to Aserca Airlines and its twin PAWA Dominicana, belonging to Simeón García.
In the face of traveler uncertainty, who fear being stranded at any moment with their purchased tickets, Avior has employed social media solely to declare that the news surrounding them is fake. Below are detailed instances that could abruptly interrupt the vacations of travelers who purchased tickets through this airline:
Shareholding Control in Miami: A group of shareholders led by Carlos Kauffmann and Moisés Maionica (notorious figures involved in the Antonini Wilson case) won a lawsuit in Miami against Jorge Añez and Juan Bracamonte, shareholder and president of Avior, respectively, for control of the airline. In this lawsuit, Judge Michael Hanzman determined that Añez lacked the authority to represent Avior and noted overwhelming evidence that he had manipulated the company’s accounting and formed an “illegitimate board of associates” to gain control of the troubled airline. In practice, this judge recognizes that the owners of Avior in Venezuela and Colombia differ from those recognized in the United States.
Sale of an Airbus to Maduro: With all Conviasa aircraft sanctioned by various European and North American countries, in 2020, the Maduro government purchased an Airbus 340-300 from Avior, which currently dons Conviasa colors and is used by the regime for long-distance flights, recently lent to Cuban dictator Miguel Díaz-Canel for his European tour. The transaction was not a purchase per se, but rather a debt settlement for debts owed by Roberto and Jorge Añez’s company with the national government. This aircraft, the only Airbus in Avior’s fleet, is not far from being sanctioned like other Conviasa planes.
Prohibition to Fly to Europe: Since 2019 – renewed in 2022 – Avior has been on a list of 130 airlines prohibited from flying over the Schengen area after the European Union determined that “the airline continues to provide inadequate security while flying and persists in its recommendation not to board its units for travel.” In addition to the impossibility of flying to the United States, Avior’s market has been restricted to smaller destinations such as Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and some other areas of the Caribbean.
Tour Operator for Wealthy Chavistas: Aleczander Añez, son of Avior shareholder Roberto Añez, founded Miami Luxury Yacht Group and MWC Charter & Concierge, companies dedicated, respectively, to yacht sales and luxury vacation planning, with a preferred clientele of Maduro’s government officials and associates. This raised alarms with U.S. authorities upon noticing significant amounts of money entering these companies without justification. There remains a frozen account at Wells Fargo where Rebeca García Teppa, wife of Roberto Añez, also signs, who lives in the United States on a student visa prohibiting her from engaging in business enterprises.
PDVSA Crypto: Jorge and Aleczander Añez, sons of Avior’s main shareholders, Jorge and Roberto Añez, were at the operational forefront of a plan wherein the Venezuelan government lent tens of millions of dollars to Avior, charging only 50% of its price. The idea was to invest the money in modernizing the airline’s fleet, continuing to use it as a “private” airline, while effectively serving as air transport for government officials to destinations unreachable by Conviasa due to sanctions. Following the arrest of Sunacrip director Joselit Ramírez, who spearheaded the entire operation – promoted by Jesús Vergara Betancourt and Leonardo Dellán – the wallets holding these cryptocurrencies also disappeared, and the Añez children quickly fled to their residence in Doral, Florida. Currently, the 73rd Prosecutor’s Office of the Public Ministry is actively seeking them to present in court. Europol has also shown interest in this case.
Another piece targeted Jesús Vergara and Roberto Añez, stating the following:
“A corruption scandal at PDVSA involves high executives and businessmen. In a new twist of events, a corruption scandal at PDVSA has surfaced, implicating high executives and businessmen. Pedro Ferrer of the Lloyd Sudamericano Group was hired by Jesús Vergara and Roberto Añez to manage port and marine services for over 50 oil tankers during the administration of former PDVSA trade and supply vice president, Pérez Suárez, who is currently detained under investigation for the corruption plot within the state oil company.
According to investigations, Ferrer allegedly engaged in improper practices by charging over 100 million dollars for delays, a significant amount that has attracted the attention of authorities. Alarmingly, according to evidence gathered by SEXTOVISION, these funds were distributed among Añez, Vergara, and Pérez Suárez, indicating a well-organized corruption network.
The 73rd Venezuelan Prosecutor’s Office already has a case for financial crimes and money laundering against the owners of Avior Airlines. The accusations are serious, and if found guilty, they could face severe legal penalties.
This case has generated great outrage in public opinion, as PDVSA is a strategic company for the country, and its corruption undermines the national economy. Society demands a prompt and thorough investigation that reaches the furthest consequences, regardless of the status or position of those involved.
Moreover, this scandal highlights the need to implement more rigorous control and transparency measures in the management of state-owned enterprises. “It is imperative that effective oversight mechanisms be established and that a culture of honesty and accountability be promoted at all levels of public administration.
As the investigation unfolds, more details about this corruption scheme are expected to emerge.
The PDVSA corruption scandal, implicating Pedro Ferrer, Jesús Vergara, Roberto Añez, and former vice president Pérez Suárez, has shaken public opinion. Society demands transparency, justice, and a thorough investigation to dismantle this corruption network and restore trust in institutions.”
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