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Julio Herrera Velutini: Indictment and Legal Proceedings
Table of Contents
Venezuelan businessman Julio Herrera Velutini was indicted in the United States on January 25, 2024, on charges of bribery and conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) related to obtaining government contracts in Guatemala. As of January 30, 2026, Herrera Velutini remains a fugitive, and the legal proceedings are ongoing.
the indictment alleges Herrera Velutini, through his company, paid approximately $3.5 million in bribes to Guatemalan officials between 2014 and 2018 to secure contracts with the Guatemalan government for the supply of security features for national identification documents and passports. These contracts were awarded to Herrera Velutini’s companies, including Identificación Biométrica Nacional S.A. (IBN) and Corporación Biometrica Nacional S.A. (CBN).
On January 26, 2024, a federal court in Florida issued an arrest warrant for Herrera Velutini. The Department of Justice press release details the charges and the alleged scheme. Guatemala has also initiated its own investigation into the matter.
the Charges and Allegations
The core of the case centers around violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), which prohibits U.S. citizens and companies from bribing foreign government officials to obtain or retain business. the U.S. Department of Justice alleges Herrera Velutini conspired with others to pay bribes to Guatemalan officials to influence the awarding of government contracts.
Specifically,the indictment details payments made to various Guatemalan officials,including members of the National Civil Registry (Registro Nacional Civil – RNC). These payments were allegedly disguised as legitimate business expenses. The Department of Justice claims Herrera Velutini used shell companies and intermediaries to funnel the bribes.
According to the Department of Justice, herrera Velutini faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count of bribery and conspiracy.
Several entities and individuals are connected to this case beyond Julio Herrera Velutini.Identificación Biométrica Nacional S.A. (IBN) and corporación Biometrica Nacional S.A. (CBN) are the companies allegedly used to secure the Guatemalan contracts through bribery. The Registro Nacional Civil (RNC), Guatemala’s national civil registry, is the government agency at the center of the alleged bribery scheme.
The U.S. Department of Justice has not publicly named all individuals involved, but the indictment suggests the involvement of multiple Guatemalan officials. Guatemalan authorities are conducting their own investigation to identify and prosecute any complicit officials. Prensa.com reports on the Guatemalan investigation.
José Raúl Romero Suruy, a former director of the RNC, has been implicated in the scandal.He was arrested in Guatemala in February 2024 on charges related to the case. Diario Financiero details Romero Suruy’s arrest.
Current Status (as of January 30, 2026)
As of January 30, 2026, Julio Herrera Velutini remains at large and is considered a fugitive
