Former Venezuelan Official Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering and Bribery

Nepmar Jesus Escalona Enriquez, a former Venezuelan National Guard major, admitted to orchestrating a $1.7 million fraud scheme from Fort Lauderdale.

Nepmar Jesus Escalona Enriquez, based in Fort Lauderdale, pleaded guilty to money laundering and bribery, involving a scheme to defraud Venezuelan and foreign financial institutions.
The scheme falsely claimed to finance food imports into Venezuela, instead funneling $1.7 million to enrich Escalona and associates.
Escalona admitted to submitting bogus applications to Venezuela's currency control authority and bribing officials to cover up the illicit activities.
He faces up to 20 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for May 23.
The case was led by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Miami Field Division.