A Venezuelan man, George Semerene Quintero, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for his involvement in a scheme to violate U.S. sanctions and illegally send American-made aircraft parts to a state-run oil company in Venezuela. The sentencing was part of a larger investigation into attempts to help the Venezuelan government, led by President Nicolás Maduro, bypass U.S. economic restrictions.
A Desperate Scheme to Evade U.S. Sanctions
George Semerene, 61, worked for Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PdVSA), a company owned by the Venezuelan government. PdVSA is responsible for most of Venezuela’s oil production and has been under strict U.S. sanctions for years. These sanctions were put in place to limit the country’s ability to access the American market and to cut off financial support for the government of Nicolás Maduro, whom many countries accuse of being involved in corruption and human rights abuses.
Between 2019 and 2021, Semerene and his co-conspirators attempted to smuggle critical aircraft parts into Venezuela to service the PdVSA-owned fleet of airplanes. These parts included essential equipment like bearings, rudder parts, and actuators that were necessary to keep the planes running. The only problem? The United States had put sanctions on PdVSA, making it illegal for American companies to sell parts or products to the company.
Rather than stopping the trade, Semerene found a way around the law. He and his partners in crime used a series of tricks to hide the true destination of the parts, hoping to avoid detection by U.S. authorities. They used middlemen in other countries, including Spain and Costa Rica, to pretend that the parts were going to them, rather than PdVSA. This was done in secret to prevent U.S. companies from knowing they were actually selling parts that would end up being used by a sanctioned Venezuelan company.
Lies and Fake Paperwork to Cover Tracks
To pull off their plan, Semerene and his co-conspirators had to go even further. They worked together to create fake documents and lies that would mislead American businesses and customs officials. The middlemen in Costa Rica and Spain were told to lie on forms, making false statements about who would be receiving the parts. They also faked invoices and documents that made it appear as though the goods were not intended for PdVSA.
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Additionally, these lies extended to shipping companies, who were responsible for moving the parts from the U.S. to their final destination. Semerene and his team used freight forwarders to handle the shipments and make sure that the goods reached Venezuela without raising suspicions.
Even though the group tried to hide what they were doing, law enforcement was able to track down their activities. The scheme was exposed in 2021 when Semerene was arrested as he arrived in the United States. Following his arrest, he pled guilty to charges related to his involvement in the operation.
The Investigation and Legal Consequences for Semerene
The U.S. government took swift action to stop the illegal activities and hold those responsible accountable. The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, led the investigation. They uncovered the full extent of the operation, tracking how Semerene and his team used false companies to disguise their illegal transactions. As a result of their work, Semerene was charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a law that protects the U.S. from illegal business deals with foreign governments that are under sanctions.
On August 20, Semerene admitted his role in the scheme, and on November 15, he was sentenced to 30 months in prison. In addition to his prison time, he will also face three years of supervised release once he has completed his sentence. This case sends a strong message about the United States’ commitment to enforcing its sanctions laws.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen, who oversees the National Security Division of the Justice Department, emphasized the importance of these actions. He stated that the U.S. government would not tolerate any attempts to undermine sanctions against the Maduro regime, especially when it comes to protecting national security. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, led by U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe, played a key role in bringing Semerene to justice.
This case serves as an important reminder of the consequences of attempting to break U.S. sanctions. It highlights the U.S. government’s determination to enforce its laws and stop those who try to help sanctioned nations evade restrictions.
