Former Florida congressman David Rivera sentenced to 10 years in Venezuela lobbying case
Updated on: October 2, 2026 / 5:49 PM EDT / CBS Miami
TL;DR
- Former Florida Congressman David Rivera was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.
- The sentence is for his role in a secret $50 million lobbying campaign for the Venezuelan government.
- Rivera was convicted on counts including failing to register as a foreign agent and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
- Prosecutors described Rivera's actions as a betrayal of the South Florida community motivated by greed.
- Rivera's defense argued that his work aimed to replace Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and was exempt from foreign-agent registration.
- Properties owned by Rivera in Doral and the Florida Keys will be forfeited to the government.
- Evidence included encrypted messages using code words for payments and individuals involved.