[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 128 (Thursday, July 8, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36174-36176]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-14515]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice: 11461]
Report to Congress Pursuant to Section 353(d)(1)(A) of the United
States--Northern Triangle Enhanced Engagement Act
ACTION: Notice of report.
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SUMMARY: This document outlines the State Department's report to
Congress regarding foreign persons who have knowingly engaged in
actions that undermine democratic processes or institutions,
significant corruption, or obstruction of such corruption in El
Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras pursuant to Section 353(b) of the
Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
Appropriations Act, 2021.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Report to Congress on Foreign Persons Who Have Knowingly Engaged in
Actions That Undermine Democratic Processes or Institutions,
Significant Corruption, or Obstruction of Such Corruption in El
Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras Section 353(b) of the Department of
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act,
2021 (Div. FF, Pub. L. 116-260)
Consistent with Section 353(b) of the United States--Northern
Triangle Enhanced Engagement Act (Subtitle F of title III of Div. FF,
Pub. L. 116-260), this report is being submitted to the House Foreign
Affairs Committee, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, House Committee
on the Judiciary, and the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
Consistent with the requirements of Section 353(b), this report
identifies the following persons in El Salvador, Guatemala, and
Honduras: (1) Foreign persons determined to have knowingly engaged in
actions that undermine democratic processes or institutions; (2)
foreign persons determined to have knowingly engaged in significant
corruption; and (3) foreign persons determined to have knowingly
engaged in obstruction of investigations into such acts of corruption,
including the following: Corruption related to government contracts;
bribery and extortion; the facilitation or transfer of the proceeds of
corruption, including through money laundering; and acts of violence,
harassment, or intimidation directed at governmental and
nongovernmental corruption investigators.
Consistent with the requirements of Section 353, foreign persons
listed in this report are generally ineligible for visas and admission
to the United States. Foreign persons listed in this report shall have
their visas revoked immediately and any other valid visa or entry
documentation will be cancelled, absent an exception or national
security interest waiver. Consistent with Section 353(g), this report
will be published in the Federal Register.
The report includes individuals for whom the Department is aware of
credible information or allegations of the conduct at issue, from media
reporting and other sources. The Department will continue to review the
individuals listed in the report and consider all available tools to
deter and disrupt corrupt, undemocratic activity in El Salvador,
Guatemala, and Honduras. The Department also continues to actively
review additional credible information and allegations concerning
corruption and to utilize all applicable authorities, as appropriate,
to ensure corrupt officials are denied safe haven in the United States.
El Salvador
Walter Ren[eacute] Araujo Morales, former member and president of
the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, undermined democratic processes or
institutions by calling for insurrection against the Legislative
Assembly and repeatedly threatening political candidates.
Pablo Salvador Anliker Infante, former Minister of Agriculture,
engaged in significant corruption by misappropriating public funds for
his personal benefit.
Conan Tonathiu Castro Ram[iacute]rez, current legal advisor to the
president, undermined democratic processes or institutions by assisting
in the inappropriate removal of five Supreme Court Magistrates and the
Attorney General.
[Oacute]scar Rolando Castro, Minister of Labor, obstructed
investigations into corruption and undermined democratic processes or
institutions in efforts to damage his political opponents.
Osiris Luna Meza, Vice Minister of Security and Director of
Prisons, has engaged in significant corruption related to government
contracts and bribery during his term in office.
Jos[eacute] Luis Merino, former vice minister for foreign
investment and development financing, engaged in significant corruption
during his term in office through bribery. He also participated in a
money laundering scheme.
Ezequiel Milla Guerra, former mayor of La Union, engaged in
significant corruption by abusing his authority as mayor in the sale of
Perico Island to agents of the People's Republic of China in exchange
for personal benefit.
Jos[eacute] Aquiles Enrique Rais L[oacute]pez engaged in
significant corruption and undermined democratic processes or
institutions by bribing public officials.
Martha Carolina Recinos de Bernal, current Chief of Cabinet,
engaged in significant corruption by misusing public funds for personal
benefit. She also participated in a significant money laundering
scheme.
Carlos Armando Reyes Ramos, current member of the Legislative
Assembly, obstructed investigations into corruption by inappropriately
influencing the Supreme Court Magistrate selection process.
Othon Sigfrido Reyes Morales, former legislator from the FMLN party
of El Salvador, engaged in significant corruption during his term in
office through fraud and misuse of public funds.
Rogelio Eduardo Rivas Polanco, former minister of security and
justice, engaged in significant corruption by misappropriating public
funds for personal benefit.
Adolfo Salume Artinano, engaged in significant corruption and
undermined democratic processes and institutions by bribing a Supreme
Court Magistrate to avoid paying a fine.
Luis Guillermo Wellman Carpio, current Magistrate of Supreme
Electoral Tribunal, undermined democratic processes or institutions by
causing serious and unnecessary delays in election preparations and
results tabulation for his personal benefit and allowing Chinese malign
influence during the Salvadoran elections.
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Guatemala
Gustavo Adolfo Alejos Cambara, former Guatemalan presidential chief
of staff, engaged in significant corruption by facilitating payments to
congressional representatives and judges on Guatemala's Supreme Court
of Justice (CSJ) in order to inappropriately influence the judicial
selection process for magistrates to the CSJ and Court of Appeals and
secure his future release from prison and the dismissal of corruption
charges. He is designated under the Global Magnitsky sanctions program
and Section 7031(c) for involvement in significant corruption.
Felipe Alejos Lorenzana, former first secretary of the Guatemalan
Congress, has engaged in significant corruption. While acting in his
official capacity, Mr. Alejos was involved in corrupt acts to enrich
himself, while also seriously harming U.S. businesses' international
economic activity. He is designated under the Global Magnitsky
sanctions program and Section 7031(c) for involvement in significant
corruption.
Delia Bac Alvarado, former congressional representative, engaged in
significant corruption through her misuse of public funds for personal
benefit. She is designated under Section 7031(c) for involvement in
significant corruption.
Florencio Carrascoza Gamez, current mayor of Joyabaj, undermined
democratic processes or institutions by intimidating and unjustly
imprisoning political opponents.
Alvaro Colom Caballeros, former president, engaged in significant
corruption when he participated in fraud and embezzlement involving a
new bus system in Guatemala City known as Transurbano.
Manuel Duarte Barrera, currently on the Supreme Court, has
undermined democratic processes or institutions by abusing his
authority to inappropriately influence and manipulate the appointment
of judges to high court positions.
Boris Roberto Espana Caceres, current congressional representative
in the Guatemalan Congress, engaged in significant corruption when he
participated in influence peddling and bribery.
Mario Amilcar Estrada Orellana, former congressional
representative, engaged in significant corruption and was sentenced by
U.S. courts for seeking millions from Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel to
finance political campaigns.
Raul Amilcar Falla Ovalle, a lawyer for the nongovernmental
organization (NGO) Fundacion Contra el Terrorismo (Foundation Against
Terrorism--FCT), attempted to delay or obstruct criminal proceedings
against former military officials who had committed acts of violence,
harassment, or intimidation against governmental and nongovernmental
corruption investigators.
Moises Eduardo Galindo Ruiz, an attorney with the NGO FCT,
attempted to delay or obstruct criminal proceedings against former
military officials who had committed acts of violence, harassment, or
intimidation against governmental and nongovernmental corruption
investigators, as well as the work of the Special Prosecutor's Office
Against Impunity (FECI).
Juan Carlos Godinez Rodriguez, lawyer and former member of a
congressional commission in charge of selecting Supreme Court
magistrates, undermined democratic processes or institutions by abusing
his authority to inappropriately influence and manipulate the
appointment of judges to high court positions.
Gustavo Adolfo Herrera Castillo, political operative and
businessman, undermined democratic processes or institutions by abusing
his authority to inappropriately influence and manipulate the
appointment of judges to high court positions.
Ricardo Rafael Mendez Ruiz Valdez, the founder and legal
representative of the NGO FCT, attempted to delay or obstruct criminal
proceedings against former military officials who had committed acts of
violence, harassment, or intimidation against governmental and
nongovernmental corruption investigators.
Mynor Mauricio Moto Morataya, selected in January 2021 to fill a
vacant seat on the country's Constitutional Court, undermined processes
or institutions and engaged in significant corruption when he
obstructed justice and received bribes in return for a favorable legal
decision.
Alejandro Jorge Sinbaldi Aparicio, former minister of
communications, infrastructure, and housing, engaged in significant
corruption when he participated in bribery and illegal electoral
financing, and the laundering of the proceeds of corruption for
personal gain. He is designated under Section 7031(c) for involvement
in significant corruption.
Guillermo Estuardo de Jesus Sosa Rodriguez, former vice minister of
communications, engaged in significant corruption when he participated
in bribery schemes, including involvement in a criminal structure that
pressured, collected, and deposited bribes from state contractors in
exchange for personal benefits.
Blanca Aida Stalling Davila, former Supreme Court Justice, engaged
in significant corruption by participating in bribery schemes and
inappropriately influencing the judicial branch. She is designated
under Section 7031(c) for involvement in significant corruption.
Elder de Jes[uacute]s S[uacute]chite Vargas, former minister of
culture, engaged in significant corruption related to government
contracts and influence peddling for personal gain.
Jorge Estuardo Vargas Morales, current congressional
representative, engaged in significant corruption and undermined
democratic processes or institutions when he engaged in bribery,
coercion, and influence peddling.
Nester Mauricio Vasquez Pimentel, currently on the Supreme Court,
has undermined democratic processes or institutions by abusing his
authority to inappropriately influence and manipulate the appointment
of judges to high court positions.
Honduras
Gustavo Alberto Perez, current congressional representative, has
engaged in significant corruption. He was indicted in the Arca Abierta
MACCIH-investigated corruption case for embezzling $800,000 from
various government agencies.
Marco Antonio Bogran Corrales, former director of INVEST-H, engaged
in significant corruption by misappropriating public funds during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Rosa Elena Bonilla de Lobo, former first lady, engaged in
significant corruption through fraud and misappropriation of public
funds.
Augusto Domingo Cruz Asensio, former member of congress, engaged in
significant corruption by misappropriating funds from the public
Generacion employment program to personal accounts.
Jose Celin Discua Elvir, current congressional representative,
engaged in significant corruption when he misappropriated funds from
the Secretariat of Agriculture to political campaigns.
Rodolfo Irias Navas, current congressional representative, engaged
in significant corruption when he misappropriated funds from the
Secretariat of Agriculture to political campaigns.
Eleazar Alexander Juarez Sarabia, former member of congress,
engaged in significant corruption by misappropriating funds from a
public pest control program in his home
[[Page 36176]]
department of Valle to his personal accounts.
Jose Porfirio ``Pepe'' Lobo Sosa, former president of Honduras,
engaged in significant corruption while president when he accepted
bribes from the narco-trafficking organization Los Cachiros in exchange
for political favors.
Gladys Aurora Lopez, member of the Honduran National Congress
Executive Board, engaged in significant corruption. He was indicted in
the Arca Abierta MACCIH-investigated corruption case for embezzling
$800,000 from various government agencies.
Miguel Edgardo Martinez Pineda, current congressional
representative engaged in significant corruption. He was indicted in
the Pandora MACCIH corruption case in June 2018 for misappropriating
$12.5 million in public funds from the Secretariat of Agriculture to
political campaigns for personal gain.
Sara Ismela Medina Galo, member of congress, obstructed
investigations into corruption in her role as Secretary of Congress.
Oscar Najera, current congressional representative, engaged in
significant corruption related to the Cachiros narcotrafficking
organization. He was designated under Section 7031(c) for involvement
in significant corruption.
Hector Enrique Padilla Hernandez, former member of congress,
engaged in significant corruption by misappropriating funds from the
publicly funded Limpieza de Solares y Calles development project in his
home department of Choluteca to his personal accounts.
Milton Jesus Puerto Oseguera, current congressional representative,
engaged in significant corruption. He was indicted in the Arca Abierta
MACCIH-investigated corruption case for embezzling $800,000 from
various government agencies.
Audelia Rodriguez Rodrigo, current member of congress, engaged in
significant corruption by misappropriating funds from the publicly
funded Limpieza de Solares y Calles development project to her personal
accounts.
Dennys Antonio Sanchez Fernandez, current member of congress,
engaged in significant corruption by misappropriating funds from a
public pest control program in his home department of Santa Barbara to
his personal accounts.
Elvin Ernesto Santo Ordonez, current congressional representative,
engaged in significant corruption when he misappropriated funds from
the Secretariat of Agriculture to political campaigns.
Juan Carlos Valenzuela Molina, current congressional
representative. He was indicted in the Arca Abierta MACCIH-investigated
corruption case for embezzling $800,000 from various government
agencies.
Elden Vasquez, current congressional representative, engaged in
significant corruption through the misappropriation of $12.5 million
from the Secretariat of Agriculture to political campaigns for his
personal gain. He was indicted in the Pandora MACCIH-investigated
corruption case in June 2018.
Welsy Milena Vasquez Lopez, current congressional representative,
engaged in significant corruption including embezzlement and
misappropriation of public funds for personal gain. He was indicted in
the Arca Abierta MACCIH-investigated corruption case for embezzling
$800,000 from various government agencies.
Roman Villeda Aguilar, member of congress, obstructed
investigations into corruption, which resulted in the dismissal of an
embezzlement case against several congressman who were under
investigation for redirecting money to a fake NGO.
Dated: June 30, 2021.
Brian P. McKeon,
Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources.
[FR Doc. 2021-14515 Filed 7-7-21; 8:45 am]
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