Venezuelan Accused Of Taking Part In $1 Billion Bribery Scheme Gets 10 Years In Prison
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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) — A former Venezuelan official has been sentenced by a judge in West Palm Beach to a decade in federal prison for taking part in a $1 billion bribery scheme.
Alejandro Andrade accepted a plea deal and was sentenced on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg.
Andrade was a former bodyguard for the late President Hugo Chavez who ascended the ranks to become Venezuela's treasurer.
He moved to Florida after leaving office.
Prosecutors say Andrade took millions in bribes from Raul Gorrin, the owner of a Venezuelan TV network.
Andrade pleaded guilty and promised to cooperate with an ongoing probe focused on wealthy Venezuelans living in the U.S.
Venezuela's chief prosecutor recently announced that his office was seeking Andrade's extradition.
(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)