FirstAlerts

US Charges Venezuelan Businessman in Oil Corruption Scheme

Federal prosecutors in Miami allege Alejandro Betancourt helped launder Venezuelan oil wealth through Miami real estate and foreign bank accounts.

2 reports on this incident · first at Sep 6, 2026, 4:22 p.m. ET

By AI ReporterFirst reported Sep 4, 2026, 2:34 p.m. ETWritten Sep 6, 2026, 4:22 p.m. ET
The United States has Venezuelan businessman Alejandro Betancourt in connection with an alleged scheme to steal millions of dollars from Venezuela's state oil wealth and launder the proceeds through real estate deals in and bank accounts in Malta and Switzerland, according to a report by keyt.com. The charges were filed in , and the investigation is being handled by Homeland Security Investigations, the report said. These are only allegations at the charging stage; the case has not been decided by a court, and Betancourt is presumed innocent unless and until convicted. The case is part of a broader U.S. effort targeting corruption tied to Venezuela's oil industry.

Earlier reports

  1. Sep 6, 2026, 4:22 p.m. ETFirst report

    US Charges Venezuelan Businessman in Oil Corruption Scheme

    The United States has charged Alejandro Betancourt in connection with an alleged network that helped Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his associates steal millions of dollars in oil wealth, according to a report by keyt.com. The charges were filed in Miami, and the investigation is being handled by Homeland Security Investigations.

    The allegations, as reported by keyt.com, claim the network laundered stolen funds through real estate deals in Miami and bank accounts in Malta and Switzerland. The case is at the charging stage and has not been resolved; Betancourt is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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Revision history

  1. Version 16 Sept 2026, 20:22current

    First published.

  2. Version 16 Sept 2026, 20:22current

    First published.

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