"Charges were unsealed today against five former Venezuelan government officials for their alleged participation in an international money laundering scheme involving bribes made to corruptly secure energy contracts from Venezuela’s state-owned and state-controlled energy company, Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA)," the release said on Monday.
One of the defendants, Cesar Rincon, was extradited from Spain on February 9, three remain in Spanish custody, and one remains at large, according to the release.
"The indictment further alleges that the co-conspirators then laundered the proceeds of the bribery scheme through a series of complex international financial transactions, including to, from or through bank accounts in the United States, and, in some instances, laundered the bribe proceeds in the form of real estate transactions and other investments in the United State," the release said.
All five defendants are citizens of Venezuela, and one a dual citizen of United States.