Man Pleads Guilty In $1.2 Billion Venezuelan Money-Laundering Scheme In Miami
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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) -- A former Swiss bank executive has pleaded guilty to his role in a $1.2 billion money-laundering scheme involving Venezuela's state-run oil and natural gas company.
Federal court records show that 44-year-old Matthias Krull pleaded guilty in Miami federal court on Wednesday to conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The German national and Panamanian resident is scheduled to be sentenced October 29.
Authorities say the scheme began in 2014 with bribery and fraud at the state-run PDVSA oil and gas enterprise and grew over time.
A criminal complaint contends the scheme involved members of the Venezuelan elite, money managers, brokerage firms, banks and real estate investment firms.
Krull acknowledged joining the conspiracy in 2016.
Officials say Krull and others used Miami real estate and sophisticated false-investment schemes to conceal the embezzled money.
(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)