CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – Three U.S. oil officials in Venezuela were convicted of corruption charges by a judge on Thursday and sentenced to immediate prison terms, defense lawyers said, hoping to be sent home in the hope of a quick release. Families in the United States.
Some relatives were bored for the disappointing result, which came on Thanksgiving Day evening.
Elirio Rafael Zambreno, a brother of the two men, described them as “innocent innocents” and victims of “judicial terrorism.” No evidence in this case supports the guilty plea, he said.
“We, the family, are heartbroken to be even more separated from our loved ones,” Zambrano said. “We pray that the leaders of our nation move forward and continue to fight relentlessly for their freedom and human rights.”
Attorney Maria Alejandra Polio, who helped represent the three men, said the case was “false to the evidence.” “Of course, the defense will appeal the decision,” he said.
The so-called Sitgo is an employee of the Houston-based Sitgo Refining Company, which owns the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA. He was drawn to a business meeting in Venezuela three years ago and was arrested on corruption charges.
His arrest marked the beginning of a purge by President Nicolas Maduro’s PDVSA government, and a breakdown in relations between Caracas and Washington as Venezuela plunged into economic and social crisis.
Five of the men were sentenced to 8 years and 10 months in prison, while one was sentenced to 13 years. Defense attorney Jesus Loreto said the five with lesser conditions could be released on parole in two years.
Venezuelan officials did not immediately comment.
A man named Tomeyu Waddell said in a letter to the Caracas prison and provided special information to the Associated Press before the verdict that he hoped for a fair trial so that he could be released and go home. Family in the United States.
Despite his circumstances, Waddell hoped.
“During the trial, the truth has been proved,” Waddell said in a four-page handwritten letter. “It proves I’m innocent.”
He added, “Now I am reaching a crossroads where if justice is done I can rebuild my life and try to compensate my family for the lost moments.” “The light is intense – hope is great – give me freedom.”
Widell said it is especially painful to be separated from his wife, three adult children and newborn grandson during the Thanksgiving season.
“Before the tragedy, these celebrations were a very special time for our family,” Waddell wrote. “Now, they make me very sad.”
For the first time, Waddell, or any so-called Sitgo, spoke in public after his arrest and public accusation of a major corruption scheme. He is being held in a horrific Caracas prison called Al Helicoid.
Others convicted include Gustavo Cardenas, Jorge Toledo, brothers Jose Luis Zambreno and Elirio Zambreno, all now U.S. citizens. Permanent resident, Jose Pereira received the longest sentence.
He was also accused of embezzling billions of dollars in Sitgo bonds by offering a 0% stake in the company as collateral. Maduro accused him of “treason” at the time.
They all pleaded not guilty.
The men were called to the PDVSA headquarters for which they were told there was a budget meeting on November 21, 2017. Instead, military intelligence officers entered the boardroom and handed him over to prison.
His trial began four months ago and closed on Thursday. The judge immediately announced his verdict.
The proceedings took place one day a week in Downtown Caracas Court. Due to the epidemic, sessions were held in front of a bank of inactive elevators in a hallway to take advantage of the air flowing through the open window.
News media and rights groups denied entry to the hearing. Judge Lorena Cornelius did not receive a response to a letter from the Associated Press seeking permission to observe.
Venezuela’s chief prosecutor’s office said in a statement to the AP before the verdict that investigators had found “serious evidence” to support financial crimes that could potentially harm a state-run company.
The Sitgo case has developed in general during all phases established by Venezuela’s criminal process, the statement said.
Loreto said his client was found to be embroiled in a “geopolitical conflict” in which he was not a part. He said Vadel’s name never appeared on any of the plaintiff’s documents read in the evidence.
“There is nothing that refers to Tomayu in any way – directly or indirectly,” the prosecutor said. “It’s a story told against the will of a good person for all the wrong reasons.”
Former Governor of New Mexico. Bill Richardson, who has negotiated the release of other Americans captured by hostile governments, traveled to Caracas in July and met with Maduro.
He did not win his freedom, but in the following days two of them – Cardenas and Toledo – were released from prison and placed under house arrest. Two weeks later, the long-delayed hearing began.
Richardson told the AP that talks with the Venezuelan government were ongoing despite his meeting with Maduro being “a little tumultuous”. He said he believes the president-elect is a start tied to Biden and that Maduro wants to improve relations with Washington.
“I think the Venezuelans have been straight with me, but more progress needs to be made,” Richardson said before the verdict. “I hope to have something positive by Christmas.”
It is not clear what approach Biden will take towards Maduro. Trump has aggressively pushed for Maduro’s removal through economic sanctions, and the U.S. Justice Department has accused Maduro of being a “narcoterist” by offering him a 15 15 million reward for his arrest.
The politics became clear from Waddell’s letter. He did not mention Maduro or talk about his jailors, although he did express concern about the “consequences of the reaction.”
With the encouragement of his family, Waddell broke his silence, saying it was necessary to take risks relatives.
“I believe it is more important that the light of hope illuminates us,” Waddell wrote. “The light of hope can put an end to my family’s sadness.”
Five other men did not respond to invitations made by their lawyers to comment.
Waddell’s daughter, Christina Waddell, said in a phone interview from Lake Charles that her father was not a meditator. Lata, he prefers to focus on work and his family.
During his 35-year career with PDVSA and Sitgo, Waddell completed a refinery operation at Lake Charles and later became vice president of refining. The letter seeks to highlight this side of his life, he said.
“I think he was willing to take some risks and open some hearts to let them come home,” he said. “I think he’s still thinking ‘what happened?’ He went to work meetings and never came home. ”
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Scott Smith on Twitter: @Scott Tsmith AP
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The report is contributed by Joshua Goodman, author of the Associated Press in Miami.
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