U.S. grand jury indicts 5 in Argentine "suitcase scandal"

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

U.S. grand jury indicts 5 in Argentine "suitcase scandal"
Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:25pm EST

MIAMI (Reuters) - A U.S. grand jury indicted four
Venezuelans and a Uruguayan on Thursday on charges
of acting as unregistered foreign agents for Venezuela
who allegedly tried to cover up a scheme to smuggle
$800,000 in cash to Argentina.

The indictment formalizes charges brought last week
when four of the five were arrested in connection with
the case, which touched off corruption allegations in
South America and diplomatic tensions between
Washington and Buenos Aires.

U.S. prosecutors say the men represented the anti-U.S.
government of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and
alleged in court that one of the defendants said the
money was destined for the campaign of Cristina
Fernandez de Kirchner, who won Argentina's presidential
election in October.

The grand jury indicted Moises Maionica, 36, Rodolfo
Wanseele Paciello, 40, Franklin Duran, 40, and Carlos
Kauffmann, 35, who were in custody in Florida, and
Antonio Jose Canchica Gomez, 37, who is still at large.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN2018803520071221