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7/23/2020

Treasury Targets Individuals Supporting Illegitimate Maduro Regime’s Corruption | U.S. Department of the Treasury

Treasury Targets Individuals Supporting Illegitimate Maduro
Regime’s Corruption
July 23, 2020

Washington – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control
(OFAC) designated brothers Santiago Jose Moron Hernandez (Santiago) and Ricardo Jose Moron
Hernandez (Ricardo) for, respectively, providing support for Nicolas Ernesto Maduro Guerra
(Maduro Guerra) and the corrupt activities of members of the illegitimate regime of his father,
Nicolas Maduro Moros (Nicolas Maduro).
“While the Venezuelan people suffer, the illegitimate Maduro regime has focused its efforts on
retaining its grip on power,” said Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. “The United States is committed
to targeting individuals who facilitate and enable this corrupt regime as they continue to ignore
the welfare of the Venezuelan people.”
Santiago and Ricardo are being designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13692, as
amended.
Members of the Moron Hernandez family are trusted partners of Nicolas Maduro and his son,
Maduro Guerra, who OFAC designated on July 31, 2017 and June 28, 2019 pursuant to E.O.
13692. Santiago and Ricardo distribute assets for Nicolas Maduro and his family throughout the
world. Maduro Guerra hired Santiago and Ricardo to conduct business on his behalf. The two
brothers used different companies to conduct transactions. In addition, Santiago is Maduro
Guerra’s principal assistant and regularly accompanies him while Ricardo handles operational
activities.
Separately, Maduro Guerra, Santiago, Ricardo, and their closest allies are central figures in
Venezuela’s gold industry. Maduro Guerra is accused of conducting illicit transactions, including
the sale of gold mined in Venezuela and dispatched from the Central Bank of Venezuela, which
was designated by OFAC on April 17, 2019 pursuant to E.O. 13850, as amended. Santiago and
Ricardo oversee the financial mechanism of the illicit gold scheme.
Santiago is being designated for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial,
material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Maduro Guerra.
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm1068

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7/23/2020

Treasury Targets Individuals Supporting Illegitimate Maduro Regime’s Corruption | U.S. Department of the Treasury

Ricardo is being designated for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial,
material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, public corruption
by senior officials within the Government of Venezuela.
As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of these individuals that are in
the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be
reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or
more by the designated individuals, are also blocked. OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all
dealings by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or
interests in property of blocked or designated persons.
U.S. sanctions need not be permanent; sanctions are intended to bring about a positive change
of behavior. The United States has made clear that the removal of sanctions may be available for
individuals and entities designated pursuant to E.O. 13692, as amended, who take concrete and
meaningful actions to restore democratic order, refuse to take part in human rights abuses,
speak out against abuses committed by the illegitimate Maduro regime, or combat corruption in
Venezuela.
Identifying information on the individuals designated today.
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https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm1068

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