Venezuela former chief justice indicted in U.S. for cash laundering By Reuters

CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s former chief justice Maikel Moreno has been indicted on cash laundering expenses associated to bribe funds he allegedly obtained in alternate for influencing court docket choices, the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for Southern District of Florida mentioned.

Moreno allegedly took over $10 million in bribes and used the funds to buy or renovate actual property in Tuscany, Italy, and Miami, amongst different locations, in line with a press release late on Thursday.

“Throughout his tenure on the Supreme Court docket, Moreno obtained bribes in alternate for influencing actions in legal instances, together with dismissing legal expenses and arrest warrants or ordering house confinement for charged defendants,” in line with the assertion.

Moreno was changed as chief justice in 2022, however retains a place as a choose on the court docket. Venezuela’s data ministry didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Moreno is charged with one depend of conspiracy to commit cash laundering, one depend of concealment of cash laundering, and two counts of participating in transactions in criminally derived property, in line with the assertion.

The USA in 2020 sanctioned Moreno and provided a $5 million reward for data resulting in his arrest or conviction for allegedly collaborating in transnational organized crime.

A 2017 Reuters investigation discovered Moreno had confronted allegations that he participated in extortion and influence-peddling rackets and that he was arrested in 1989 on suspicions of killing a youngster.