# David Rivera sentencing for Venezuela lobbying > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/david-rivera-sentencing-for-venezuela-lobbying > Updated: 2026-10-04T17:31:34.000Z. Sources: 34. Developments: 2. Former U.S. Representative David Rivera has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his involvement in a secret $50 million lobbying campaign on behalf of the Venezuelan government. Following a conviction for conspiracy to commit money laundering and violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), a federal judge in Miami delivered the sentence. Evidence presented during the proceedings showed that between 2017 and 2018, Rivera and political consultant Esther Nuhfer secured a contract with a subsidiary of the Venezuelan state-run oil company, PDVSA. The scheme involved using these funds to lobby U.S. officials and arrange meetings with Venezuelan leadership, including President Nicolás Maduro, without required public disclosures. Prosecutors established that Rivera moved funds through various accounts to conceal their origin, which included depositing approximately $1.5 million into his Florida congressional campaign account and using money for personal expenses. While Rivera’s defense argued the activities were commercial and exempt from disclosure laws, the court found the actions constituted illegal foreign influence. In addition to the prison term, the court ordered the forfeiture of several of Rivera’s properties. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-04: David Rivera sentenced to 10 years for Venezuela lobbying scheme Former U.S. Representative David Rivera was sentenced to 10 years in prison for an unregistered $50 million lobbying scheme on behalf of Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/david-rivera-sentenced-to-10-years-for-venezuela-lobbying-scheme ### 2026-10-02: David Rivera sentenced to 10 years for secret Venezuelan lobbying Former Florida Congressman David Rivera was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for an undisclosed $50 million lobbying campaign for the Venezuelan government and money laundering. 32 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/david-rivera-sentenced-to-10-years-for-secret-venezuela-lobbying --- Cite as: David Rivera sentencing for Venezuela lobbying. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/david-rivera-sentencing-for-venezuela-lobbying