VenePirámides
The former president of UnoValores Casa de Bolsa, Tomás Vásquez, has emerged from a low profile after reporting to the FBI an alleged extortion that took place in Miami involving Rafael Ramos, the supervisor of the brokerage firm, who is currently detained in the United States. This incident has cast a shadow over the management of the National Superintendent of Securities, Tomás Sánchez.
Vásquez opposes the intervention but acknowledges that the company’s financial situation was precarious, attributing it to transactions carried out by UnoValores’ treasurer, Leonor Sarmiento. “The embezzlement of funds and dealings with U21 severely jeopardized the company’s assets,” he asserts. Some may say you were unaware of what was happening in the company. “I was aware, but I believe that the treasurer was playing a game that led to the destruction of UnoValores.”
Why did you delay in reporting her? “On December 8, I asked the director of Common Crimes at the Prosecutor’s Office, Joel Febres, for a favor to come to my office, as it was easier than transporting individuals. He came to my office, we handed over the documents, explained the case, and he told us what we should do, but I couldn’t report it that day because I was missing a few papers. My exit on the 10th caught me by surprise.”
How were you planning to rescue the company? “We had several options: sell, seek partners, or inject capital. In January, during the intervention, we notified the superintendent, Tomás Sánchez, and Rafael Ramos that we were willing to capitalize the company.”
Was there any response? “No. Ramos barred my lawyers from entering and told me that the best lawyer I could have was him. In the early months of the year, there was a rumor that Rafael Ramos was attempting to negotiate the company.”
What does negotiating mean? “He wanted to find someone to buy the company.” So, did Ramos indeed believe in the rescue of UnoValores? “Initially, yes, until the crisis hit the brokerage firms.”
When did you directly contact him? “On December 19. My assistant told me that the supervisor was a friend of my uncle Rolando Araujo, who was also a director at UnoValores, and to please call him. I mentioned it to Rolando, who said he knew him from when a bank owned by David Brillembourg was intervened in 1994. He provided some details I prefer to keep private. I later called him.”
Why the change from not receiving your lawyers to asking for a call? “Ramos wanted direct contact with the owners, not intermediaries. I think he didn’t want to expose what was happening. When I called him in December, he seemed serious. He said he would come to Miami if necessary, but needed permission from Tomás Sánchez and had to inform the Ministry because authorization was required to travel. After we sent the capitalization request, there was a break.”
How much were you going to capitalize? “200 million bolivars.”
Where was that money coming from? “We were forming an alliance with a group interested in participating in UnoValores, but the onslaught against brokerage firms took the wind out of our sails. In the early months of the year, Ramos told me they wouldn’t want to return the company and I should look for a third party. Things started happening that I didn’t understand.”
For example? “They questioned my employees about Eligio Cedeño and my relationship with him; connections with Ricardo Fernández whom I’ve never even met; or clients arriving at UnoValores with envelopes full of cash. I realized that Ramos was negotiating the debts that clients had with UnoValores.”
When did you see each other in Miami for the first time? “In April.”
Who made that contact? “Rolando Araujo. Rafael Ramos came with Tomás Sánchez to Miami.”
Did you only have one meeting? “I met with them four times.”
Did extortion come up in the first meeting? “The first time we met. Ramos’s attitude was no longer that of the person I had spoken to in December. It was not institutional. When that meeting ended, my uncle told me Ramos had previously requested 2 million dollars. In the end, they settled for 1.5 million.”
Did the second meeting occur after you reported to the FBI? “The report hadn’t been made yet. It was on May 23 when he came for the wedding of Wilmer Ruperti.”
Did the supervisor attend Wilmer Ruperti’s wedding with actress Anastasia Mazzone? “The supervisor Rafael Ramos did attend the wedding of Wilmer Ruperti and Anastasia Mazzone, and he also joined Ruperti at Gloria Estefan’s son’s wedding.”
What was the supervisor doing at those weddings? “Wilmer Ruperti had a debt with UnoValores. He was given 22 million dollars to buy a boat.”
Why does a brokerage house give a loan? “That’s what I questioned. UnoValores isn’t a bank, but a brokerage firm and the maximum operations were usually for 90 days.”
How much was the loan? “130 million bolivars plus interest.”
When did you decide to file a complaint against Ramos? “In the meeting I had in New York, I decided to report him. I realized that he was negotiating the debts of clients, including that of Wilmer Ruperti. He also mentioned some furniture in my office that isn’t listed as part of UnoValores’ inventory. I told him they were mine, from the office I have at Eurobuilding that I moved to Torre Europa. Ramos told me he was going to take those pieces home. I thought: this is theft.”
How does the FBI verify that there was extortion? “There are recordings, emails, and text messages where he threatens me.”
What did the messages say? “That they would cut off my head and that he knew how to screw me over if I didn’t pay.”
Was he arrested in the act of extortion? “He had previously been given a check.”
Who gave him the check? “Rolando Araujo handed him a check for 750,000 dollars.”
Did Ramos cash it? “No. When he was arrested, he had the check in one of his pockets.”
Did you see Tomás Sánchez? “Tomás Sánchez was in Miami, at the same hotel as Rafael Ramos, but I never saw him. Sánchez stated that Rafael Ramos was not an official of the Superintendency.” He practically said that the owners of the brokerage firms appointed the supervisors.
The finance minister has stated that you should comply with the law instead of using U.S. agencies against the country. “They accused me of putting on a show, but all I’m saying is that one day in Venezuela we will find a minister or official who says these actions were serious and will be investigated.”
His statement points out that minister Giordani and the superintendent are evading responsibility. “The supervisors were appointed by them. Minister Giordani issued the instructions to dismantle the capital market and avoids discussing cases that I consider crimes against humanity because it targeted a specific sector, leaving over 5,000 people without direct jobs.”