Katy Man Pleads Guilty In Federal Bribery Scandal

HOUSTON, TX — A Katy man pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday to taking part in a bribery scheme involving Venezuelan government officials and U.S. based companies.

Alfonso Eliezer Gravina Munoz (Gravina), 56, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder money and one count of making false statements on his federal income tax return.

Including Gravina, the Justice Department has announced the guilty pleas of a total of 15 individuals in connection with the investigation.

Federal prosecutors said Gravina, who worked as a procurement officer of Venezuela’s state-owned and state-controlled energy company, Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), obstructed an investigation relating to bribes paid by the owner of U.S.-based companies to Venezuelan government officials in exchange for securing additional business with PDVSA and payment priority on outstanding invoices.

Prosecutors said Gravina entered into a plea agreement with federal investigators, and agreed to participate in interviews as requested by the United States, and to provide truthful and accurate information related to the investigation.

Prosecutors said Gravina knew investigators were focusing on bribes paid by an individual known as co-conspirator 1, but hid the facts about the bribe payments to PDVSA from investigators, and then told co-conspirator 1 that he was under investigation, and passed information to co-conspirator 1.

As a result, the person known as co-conspirator 1 destroyed evidence related to the investigation, and then tried to flee the country, prosecutors said.

Gravina remains in federal custody and will be sentenced in February 2019.

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