Simón Alberto Alfaro Mendoza and Luis Nahin are two suspects in Venezuela connected to an anti-corruption operation investigating the diversion of funds from the state-owned oil company PDVSA through cryptocurrencies. They are allegedly accused of banking the funds that the deputy Hugbel Roa held in crypto assets, who was arrested on April 10, along with 50 others involved in this scheme.
According to sources close to the case, Alfaro Mendoza and Nahin were part of a scheme responsible for converting the cryptocurrencies received by members of the network through oil sales into fiat currency. They then deposited this money into bank accounts abroad.
Alfaro Mendoza, husband of Venezuelan designer Maru Jordan, is believed to have been hiding in the Dominican Republic since the investigation became public. There is no news on Luis Nahin, but he is also likely in the same location. This was stated on Twitter by Carlos Romero (@carlos_romero35), who has been closely following the case.
Simón Alfaro Mendoza, husband of Venezuelan designer Maru Jordan, is presumed to be hiding in the Dominican Republic since the investigation became public. There is no news on Luis Nahin, but he is also likely in the same location. pic.twitter.com/veQTr1lAvg
— Carlos Romero (@carlos_romero35) April 24, 2023
There are other partners of Alfaro and Nahin whose identities have not been revealed until the investigation advances, although it is likely that they are already outside of Venezuela. The disclosure of their names is imminent, according to Romero.
The PDVSA-Crypto corruption scheme is considered one of the largest and most complex to have affected the Venezuelan state-owned company. According to Venezuelan judicial authorities, it is a “crypto-oil cartel” that has plundered the country’s resources through illicit operations involving cryptocurrencies.
Simón Alberto Alfaro Mendoza is the CEO of Grupo Custom, a company founded in 2005 that offers rental and sale of printing and photocopying solutions in Venezuela, claiming to have a network of branches across the country, as stated on the website Reporte de la Economía.
Alfaro Mendoza has been active in recent years registering companies in Florida and Panama. In 2004, he registered a commercial company in Venezuela, particularly in Caracas, named BODEGON LOS COMPADRES, C.A., along with his brother Eduardo José Alfaro Mendoza.
Among the companies registered by Alfaro Mendoza in Miami, Florida, are MAPIA USA, LLC (registered in 2017 and currently inactive), as well as GRUPO CUSTOM, LLC (also registered in 2017 and currently operational).
In Panama, Simón Alfaro Mendoza, like his brother Eduardo, serves as a director of the company ABRESOL INVESTMENTS, S.A., founded in 2012.