Alleged Venezuelan agents arrested in U.S.
* Story Highlights
* Alleged agents accused of trying to stop a U.S. citizen from talking
to authorities
* Miami-based Guido Alejandro Antonini Wilson tried to enter Argentina
with $800,000
* Cash is believed to have been for Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner
election campaign
Four alleged Venezuelan agents have been arrested in the U.S. and charged
with trying to persuade a U.S. citizen to keep quiet about a growing
international election scandal.
The U.S. Justice Department said the four wanted to prevent Guido Alejandro
Antonini Wilson, a businessman from Miami, Florida, from talking to
authorities.
On August 4, Antonini Wilson flew in a privately chartered aircraft from
Caracas, Venezuela, to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where customs officers
discovered $800,000 in cash in his possession.
The U.S. Justice Department said Wednesday the four men charged wanted to
stop Antonini Wilson from revealing the origin of the $800,000.
"The complaint filed today outlines an alleged plot by agents of the
Venezuelan government to manipulate an American citizen in Miami in an
effort to keep the lid on a burgeoning international scandal," Kenneth
Wainstein, assistant attorney general for national security, said in a
written statement.
The agents, who worked for the government of Venezuelan President Hugo
Chavez, wanted to ensure Wilson did not disclose "the source and destination
and the role of the government of Venezuela in the attempted delivery of the
approximately $800,000," the statement said.
The Justice Department statement does not say Chavez personally knew of the
transaction, but says the office of the vice president and members of the
Venezuelan Intelligence Directorate were aware of the matter.
U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta in Miami said: "Today's complaint alleges an
effort by the agents of Venezuela to travel to the U.S. for the purpose of
coercing our citizens to help conceal the true nature of a growing
international scandal."
Although documents did not identify which candidate was to receive the
donation, federal law enforcement officials confirmed the funds were
intended for the campaign of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who went on to
win the election.
The four men -- three Venezuelans and one Uruguayan -- made an initial court
appearance in U.S. District Court in Miami on Wednesday afternoon.
Those named in the complaint are identified as Moises Maionica, 36; Antonio
Jose Canchica Gomez, 37; Rodolfo Edgardo Wanseele Paciello, 40; Franklin
Duran, 40; and Carlos Kauffmann, 35. Officials said Gomez remains at large.
After Argentine customs found the $800,000 on Antonini Wilson, they seized
the cash and sent him to Miami.
Later, however, an Argentine judge issued an order for him to appear in
court and, at the request of the Argentine government, Interpol issued an
international wanted notice for him, U.S. State Department officials said.
The officials said that on August 31, the Argentine judge requested Antonini
Wilson's extradition. The request was delivered to the State Department on
September 4, and Justice and State are currently reviewing the extradition
request.
The U.S. officials said they do not expect to take any further action while
the Justice Department is pursuing its investigation and prosecution of the
Venezuelan and Uruguayan nationals arrested in Miami. Antonini Wilson is not
in custody, they added.
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