Federal Charges Against Roger Piñate
A federal prosecutor in South Florida has filed significant charges against Roger Piñate, a Venezuelan-American technology executive and co-founder of Smartmatic, a voting technology company.
The allegations suggest that he and Tibisai Lucena Ramirez, the long-serving head of the National Election Council (CNE), were involved in secretly coordinating control over a luxury residence in Caracas. Reports indicate that Piñate, who is 49, may have influenced Ramirez in 2019.
Smartmatic previously alleged election fraud during the 2017 National Constituent Assembly elections, which ultimately led to the cessation of its operations in Venezuela. The prosecutor’s documentation includes eyewitness accounts, encrypted messages, and photographs. These pieces of evidence reportedly show that Piñate promoted real estate transactions through foreign shell companies, obscuring the illegal nature of these dealings.
Despite these serious allegations, Smartmatic has refuted the claims, arguing that the government’s accusations distort the facts. The company asserts that it ceased all activities in Venezuela back in August 2017 after raising concerns about election fraud, and it has not pursued business there since then.
In a statement, Smartmatic emphasized its commitment to legal and ethical standards, labeling the claims as unfounded. They pointed out that the government’s 2019 allegations regarding bribery are completely disconnected from reality. They reaffirmed that they halted operations in Venezuela after reporting fraud to the government.
The luxury residence in question is believed to have been assigned to Ramirez, who played a pivotal role in shaping Venezuela’s electoral system during her tenure at the CNE from 2006 to 2020. As president of the CNE, she oversaw the controversial voting processes and managed relationships with companies like Smartmatic.
Prosecutors assert that Piñate’s efforts to secure Ramirez’s favor are crucial in addressing the ongoing tensions with the Venezuelan government. The bribery allegations are part of a larger investigation into Piñate’s purported illegal business practices.
Additionally, Piñate has been indicted by the US government for his involvement in another bribery scheme related to election contracts in the Philippines. Alongside co-defendant Jorge Miguel Vasquez, he has been charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and bribery linked to an inflated voting machine contract in the Philippines.
Smartmatic did not provide an immediate response to inquiries from the news outlet.
