MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

US court confirms Venezuela link to Argentine scandal

Duran will be sentenced next January

A United States federal court in Miami has found a Venezuelan businessman guilty of acting as an illegal foreign agent in US territory to cover up a political scandal involving Argentina.

The guilty verdict ended on Monday the two-month trial against Franklin Duran, a 41-year-old businessman who was accused of acting on behalf of the government of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Prosecutors said Venezuelan officials asked Duran to come to the United States to pressure a friend, Alejandro Antonini Wilson, who had been caught entering Argentina last year with a suitcase filled with 800,000 USD. According to US officials the money was a campaign contribution from Venezuela to Argentina's president, and Caracas wanted to conceal the source of the money. Argentina's President, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, has accused the United States of a smear campaign. President Chavez says the US is trying to discredit his socialist government. The lead prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Mulvihill, told Miami reporters the trial was not about politics. "Obviously, the United States takes very seriously the actions of any agents on its soil," said Thomas Mulvihill. "And that is what the case was about." Three other men, including Duran's former business partner, have pleaded guilty in the case. Another suspect remains at large. Duran's former partner told the court about a series of kickbacks and bribes involving Venezuelan federal and state officials. Prosecutors said the testimony showed that Duran was closely tied to officials and was eager to maintain those lucrative relationships. Antonini began helping the FBI, secretly recording Duran and others acting in Florida on behalf of Venezuela's intelligence agency, known as DISIP, prosecutors said. Duran was arrested Dec. 11 in the U.S., carrying a black Prada bag that contained a Venezuelan badge saying he was a ''commissioned intelligence officer,'' an FBI agent testified. Duran was arrested with three other South American men, Carlos Kauffmann, Moises Maionica and Rodolfo Wanseele Paciello. The three pleaded guilty and cooperated with prosecutors. Kauffmann and Maionica, a Venezuelan attorney, testified as prosecution witnesses. A fourth man was indicted and is considered a fugitive. Kauffmann and Duran own the largest private oil company in Venezuela. Kauffmann testified that Duran met with DISIP's director, Henry Rangel Silva, who was told by Chavez to direct the cover- up. The men recorded by Antonini repeatedly tried to convince him to grant power of attorney to an Argentine lawyer to try to dispose of any charges against him related to the seizure. Antonini testified he sent Chavez a letter requesting 2 million USD to take the blame and remain silent. Antonini said the letter was written by FBI agents and given to him to sign. Kauffmann told jurors that he and Duran own oil companies in Venezuela, and that they share a 30 million USD bank account in the US Kauffmann said he was drafted by top-level Venezuelan officials to silence Antonini. ''I want you to know that I'm grateful for your help in resolving this matter,'' Antonini said in the undated letter addressed to ''dear commander Chavez.'' Antonini said he was told Chavez received the letter. He said he never received the money. "Now, none of us like Chavez" Shohat told the jury on October 24. ''But this is unprecedented, incredible: the sheer chutzpah of the FBI'' to try and extort a head of state". He added the trial was motivated by politics. "I am not going to elaborate on that any further," said Ed Shohat. "I believe it is a political circus and I believe Franklin Duran is a pawn in that circus". Shohat said he plans to appeal the conviction. The corruption allegations heard at the trial have generated widespread attention, especially in Venezuela and Argentina. On Saturday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez warned that he might nationalize the petrochemical firm owned by Duran because of his alleged role in the scandal. Duran is scheduled to be sentenced in January and could receive the maximum term of 15 years in prison.