The defendants are Juan Carlos Cairo-Padron, 56, a Venezuelan national with permanent U.S. residency, and Thomas Michael Fortinberry, 51, a U.S. citizen from Alabama. They are accused of selling chemical catalysts, industrial equipment, and related services to steel mills and petrochemical companies owned by the Venezuelan government and subject to U.S. sanctions.
“Cairo and Fortinberry’s scheme involved the use of U.S. and overseas front companies that served as intermediaries on shipping documents,” the DOJ said.
The department said the pair engaged in activities “designed to conceal the fact that the goods and services were destined for sanctioned entities.”
They are accused of carrying out the scheme since at least 2022, shifting millions of dollars in goods to Venezuela in the process. They mostly used Chinese suppliers to ship the items, the DOJ said.
The defendants reportedly transferred millions of dollars between bank accounts in China, Spain, and the United States “for the purpose of continuing their sanctions evasion scheme, and to conceal the true parties involved,” the DOJ added.
If convicted, both individuals face 10 years in prison on smuggling charges and a jail term of up to 20 years for violating sanctions and money laundering rules.
The Epoch Times was unable to reach legal representatives for Cairo and Fortinberry.
The United States does not recognize Nicolas Maduro as the legitimate president of the country. It sanctioned him following Venezuela’s 2024 election.
“In the months since the Venezuelan presidential elections on July 28, 2024, the United States and its allies in the region have pushed Maduro to commit to a democratic transition,” the Treasury said.
Sanctions on Venezuelan Regime
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in March imposing tariffs on nations importing oil from Venezuela.
A 25 percent tariff was imposed on those countries. The tariff is also applicable to nations that indirectly procure Venezuelan oil via third parties. The tariff will lapse a year after the country ceases importing oil from the South American nation.
According to the White House, the Maduro regime posed “an unusual and extraordinary threat” to America’s national security. It accused the regime of systematically undermining democratic institutions while also suppressing free and fair elections.
“Venezuela lacks a competent or cooperative central authority for issuing passports or civil documents, and it does not have appropriate screening and vetting measures,” the president wrote in the proclamation.
