David Rivera, a Republican who served from 2011 to 2013, was arrested at Atlanta’s airport, said Marlene Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Miami.
To justify the large payments, PDV USA allegedly created “phony contracts” backdated to March 20, 2017 — the day before the consulting agreement took effect.
Rivera’s consulting contract had all the hallmarks of a sham, according to PDV USA, which since 2019 has been run by directors appointed by the U.S.-backed opposition.
Rivera never met in person with anyone from Citgo or PDV USA while supposedly working on its behalf.
“The written record is bereft of any evidence that Interamerican performed any of the contracted services,” PDV USA argues in the new filings.