American authorities have charged a Mexican CEO and a former politician for their alleged involvement in a bribery scandal at state-owned oil giant Pemex.
In a significant development, the U.S. Department of Justice has indicted Ramón Alexandro Rovirosa Martínez, a Mexican businessman and U.S. lawful permanent resident, for conspiring to bribe officials at Pemex, Mexico's state-owned oil company, and its subsidiary PEMEX Exploración y Producción (PEP).
Rovirosa, the founder and CEO of Roma Energy, an Exploration and Production (E&P) company for the Oil and Gas Industry based in Texas, is accused of paying at least $150,000 in bribes, including cash and luxury goods, to Pemex officials between 2019 and 2021. The bribes were offered to at least three Pemex and PEP officials in exchange for their assistance in obtaining and retaining business with Pemex and PEP.
The indictment, unsealed in the Southern District of Texas, charges Rovirosa and his alleged co-conspirator, Mario Alberto Avila Lizarraga, for their roles in an alleged bribery scheme to retain and obtain business with Pemex and PEP. The scheme is said to have helped companies associated with Rovirosa obtain contracts worth at least $2.5 million.
Rovirosa, who is originally from Villahermosa, the capital of the Gulf coast state of Tabasco, is reportedly the owner of various companies in Mexico, including Tubular Technology and Energy On Shore Services, both based in Tabasco. One of the contracts for which bribes were allegedly paid was awarded to Tubular Technology and Energy On Shore Services.
Avila, a businessman from Campeche, contested the 2009 gubernatorial election in Campeche as the candidate for the National Action Party (PAN). He worked for Pemex as a deputy director of maintenance and logistics between 2010 and 2012. He is alleged to have used "official" airplanes for personal purposes while working at Pemex.
The improper advantages helped companies associated with Rovirosa obtain contracts with Pemex and PEP worth at least $2.5 million. PEP awarded contracts worth over 82 million pesos (US $4.4 million) to companies associated with Rovirosa between 2018 and 2021.
If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count they face. The case is part of an extensive U.S. Justice Department investigation into widespread corruption at Pemex, involving multiple indictments under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
Rovirosa was arrested on Sunday and paid a $1 million bail to remain out of jail before he faces trial. He pleaded not guilty on Monday. Avila, however, remains a fugitive. The former CEO of Pemex, Octavio Romero, was the head of the company during the entirety of López Obrador's six-year term between 2018 and 2024. He is now the head of the government housing fund Infonavit.
Rovirosa formerly served as the "legal operator" of Omar Vargas, a businessman who came under investigation for allegedly defrauding Pemex during the 2000-2006 presidency of Vicente Fox. Reports also suggest that Rovirosa has ties to Mexican cartel members.
This investigation serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against corruption in Mexico's oil industry. The U.S. Department of Justice continues to work tirelessly to ensure that such corrupt practices are exposed and those involved are held accountable.
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