On August 16, 2021, charges were filed against Miami businessman Jorge Nobrega in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida for his role in a money laundering scheme involving maintenance services provided to the Venezuelan military and its fleet of Russian Sukhoi, SU-30 combat aircraft. According to the complaint, Nobrega allegedly entered contracts with the Venezuelan military to reline the fuel tanks of Russian-made aircraft with a special foam commonly used to service weapons that caused him to export the special explosion suppressant foam to Venezuela without first obtaining required licenses from the US Department of State. In addition, Nobrega opened a company bank account in Portugal in order to filter the payments received from the Venezuelan military in an attempt to hide the nature and source of the payments. As a result, Nobrega was charged with money laundering, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and Executive Orders involving Venezuela Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 591.
In an August 18, 2021 detention hearing, the court ordered that Nobrega be detained while he awaits trial. His preliminary examination and arraignment are scheduled for September 1, 2021.
Complaint | Detention Hearing Minutes