MIAMI — Former U.S. Rep. David Rivera, convicted in a secret Venezuela lobbying case in May, will not get bond ahead of his sentencing date, a Miami federal judge ruled on Thursday.
That’s despite several prominent South Florida figures, including current and former elected officials, willing to put their money and even homes on the line to help cover a proposed $7 million bond.
U.S. District Judge Melissa Damian wrote in her ruling that the 60-year-old “has not met his burden by clear and convincing evidence that he is not a flight risk if released pending sentencing.”
Damian wrote in the order that “all the letters submitted by reputable members of the South Florida community” were not enough to satisfy “his burden of showing by clear and convincing evidence that he does not pose a serious risk of non-appearance if released pending his sentencing.”
Prosecutors had argued that Rivera has significant foreign ties and assets, making him a threat to flee before his sentencing on July 20.
He’s now set to remain locked up, facing the possibility of a decade in federal prison.
Rivera was convicted alongside political consultant Esther Nuhfer of illegally lobbying for the Venezuelan government.
The two were also convicted of failing to register as foreign agents and conspiring to commit money laundering involving a consulting contract with $50 million.
Read the ruling:
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