Jesús Alfredo Vergara Betancourt (identity card V-10.046.217) is a Venezuelan businessman known for his involvement in various commercial activities, including the maritime agency Desarrollos 1405 C.A. (a contractor for PDVSA), and his philanthropic work through the Lala Foundation. However, his name has also been linked to investigations and allegations related to financial scams and alleged corruption in the business sector, specifically alongside his partner Roberto Añez (identity card V-5.533.799), a shareholder of Avior Airlines. Currently, both are being pursued by the 73rd Prosecutor’s Office of the Metropolitan Area of Caracas, which handles crimes against Money Laundering, Financial and Economic Crimes.
They are being searched for their involvement in money laundering cases related to PDVSA using cryptocurrencies—a case for which Europol is also interested—and others like Jorge Dellán, Jorge Añez, Aleczander Añez, and Pedro Ferrer. This is not the first time Jesús Vergara has found himself in the spotlight.
Jesus Vergara Betancourt, Corrupto de la CVG
In 2020, Jesús Vergara Betancourt was detained by the DGCIM and subsequently charged with aggravated fraud of continuous action and conspiracy. These accusations arose from alleged breaches in payments by his companies (Farmacia Lala and SMS Casting de Venezuela) to financial institutions, such as CVG Venalum and PDVSA. Investigations had been ongoing since 2012 but were shelved by various officials according to sources reported by El Pitazo. Despite being recognized for his social efforts through the Lala Foundation, he became embroiled in this legal process that questioned his reputation, along with that of his partner Freddy José García Gutiérrez.
Jesús Vergara’s business career as an electronic engineer and computer scientist spans over 30 years, beginning with computer stores in Puerto Ordaz. He later founded Farmacia Lala, which became a contractor for CVG Venalum, a major aluminum reducer in Venezuela. From this venture, Vergara ventured into the aluminum sector and established various companies related to this industry.
It has been noted that Jesús Vergara has connections with individuals associated with the Chavismo movement, such as Ángel Marcano, Isaías Suárez Chourio, and José Khan himself. His involvement in the aluminum business and contracts with state-owned companies like Venalum, Ferrominera del Orinoco, Alcasa, and Bauxilum has led to allegations of corruption. Along with his group of front men, including Alberto Obadia, Emilio Garet, Yamal Mustafá, Rafael Soler, and Gersón Zambrano, he has been accused of using bribes, blackmail, and media manipulation to secure lucrative contracts and discredit adversaries.
With the help of associates in government, he was allowed to handle between 300 and 800 tons of aluminum per month from basic companies, which since 2009 he moved in the black market, billing through Farmacia Lala. Soon, his group of companies expanded to include names like VG Metal, V Aluminium Group, Commodities de Venezuela, Farmosur, Allumiservices, Droguería Lala, and Sidutrade; all dedicated to the same activity where he signed with some of his front men.
Harrison Ashman described his activities in the journalistic investigation “The True Mafias of Aluminum in Venezuela,” narrating Jesús Vergara’s operations: “In that commercial relationship, formalized with contracts, for example, on August 30, 2011, he guaranteed the supply of 1.4 million tons of bauxite in exchange for a loan of 120 million dollars; to this day, that amount has not been repaid.”
Former deputy Andrés Velásquez denounced these activities to the National Assembly in 2013, highlighting the actions of Jesús Vergara, Rossi Heredia, and former Alcasa Vice President Luis Romero, referring to them as the “cartel of narcoaluminum” when a Filipino-flagged ship laden with drugs was intercepted in Russia, camouflaged as a load of aluminum ingots, that had set sail from Puerto Ordaz.
In 2016, a circular from the National Anti-Drug Office (ONA) directed to the Autonomous Service of Registries and Notaries (SAREN) requested all property records belonging to Jesús Vergara Betancourt, his son Jesús Vergara, and his father Carlos Julio Vergara, along with his partners Miguel Leonardo La Forgia Serrano and Ronal Jesús López Hernández. The aim was to connect the clan’s properties with money laundering, but this investigation was also shelved.
Circular de la ONA contra Jesús Vergara Betancourt
The investigated companies were:
VG METALS
Rif: J-29417473-6
Object: Non-Ferrous Metal Foundry
Address: Industrial Zone Matanzas, Arboleda Street, CC Bucare, Parcel 503-01-19 Puerto Ordaz, (Bolívar State)
DROGUERIA LALA
Rif: J-29391237-7
Object: Wholesaling Other Non-Specialized Products
Address: Av. Parque Industrial Los Pinos, Empresarial LALA Shopping Center Level 1, Puerto Ordaz (Bolívar State)
SIDUTRADE
Registration No.: 105304
Director: Jesús Alfredo Vergara Betancourt
Object: Purchase, sale, import, and export of all types of raw materials, enabling national and international companies to explore existing market opportunities.
Address: De Rouvilleweg N° 67, PO Box 6058, Curaçao Netherlands Antilles, Tel. nr.: + 599 9 4627690 or + 4625379.
Despite the accusations against him, Jesús Vergara has managed to solidify his image as a philanthropic businessman through the Lala Foundation. This foundation has been recognized for funding student scholarships and providing financial contributions to social organizations in Bolívar State. However, his involvement in business activities and questions regarding his ethical conduct have generated controversy and called his reputation into question.