Judge Melissa Damian delivered a 10‑year sentence on Friday, citing Rivera's $50 million contract with a Venezuela‑affiliated firm and his failure to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
During the seven‑week trial, former Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Representative Pete Sessions, and a Washington lobbyist testified that Rivera had promised to influence the Trump administration to lift sanctions.
Rivera allegedly operated an encrypted chat titled MIA, using playful code such as "bus driver" for Maduro, to coordinate payments and strategy.
A Venezuelan family in Miami, whose father lost his job due to U.S. sanctions, expressed shock at seeing Rivera's name appear in court filings.
Rivera’s lawyers have filed a federal appeal and a presidential pardon request, while he also faces a separate corruption case in Washington, D.C.; the appellate court will hear the case in late July and the White House has yet to respond to the pardon petition.