Democrat Representative Enrique Roberto “Henry” Cuellar and his wife Imelda Cuellar have been charged with bribery, unlawful influence, and money laundering.
According to an indictment unsealed in the Sothern District of Texas, Cuellar allegedly accepted $600,000 in bribes from two entities controlled by the Government of Azerbaijan from 2014 to 2021.
Cuellar accepted bribes from an oil and gas company wholly owned and controlled by the Government of Azerbaijan, and a bank headquartered in Mexico City.
The DOJ reported the bribe payments underwent laundering via fake consulting contracts, being passed through a network of front companies and intermediaries, eventually landing in shell companies owned by Imelda Cuellar.
If found guilty, they could potentially face severe penalties including two counts of conspiracy to commit bribery of a federal official and to have a public official act as an agent of a foreign principal, carrying a maximum sentence of five years in prison on each count; two counts of bribery of a federal official, with a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison on each count; two counts of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count; two counts of violating the ban on public officials acting as agents of a foreign principal, punishable by up to two years in prison on each count; one count of conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering, which could lead to a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and five counts of money laundering, each carrying a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
Per The DOJ:
An indictment was unsealed today in the Southern District of Texas charging U.S. Congressman Enrique Roberto “Henry” Cuellar, 68, and his wife, Imelda Cuellar, 67, both of Laredo, Texas, with participating in two schemes involving bribery, unlawful foreign influence, and money laundering. Congressman Cuellar and Imelda Cuellar made their initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Palermo in Houston.
According to court documents, beginning in at least December 2014 and continuing through at least November 2021, Congressman Cuellar and Imelda Cuellar allegedly accepted approximately $600,000 in bribes from two foreign entities: an oil and gas company wholly owned and controlled by the Government of Azerbaijan, and a bank headquartered in Mexico City. The bribe payments were allegedly laundered, pursuant to sham consulting contracts, through a series of front companies and middlemen into shell companies owned by Imelda Cuellar, who performed little to no legitimate work under the contracts. In exchange for the bribes paid by the Azerbaijani oil and gas company, Congressman Cuellar allegedly agreed to use his office to influence U.S. foreign policy in favor of Azerbaijan. In exchange for the bribes paid by the Mexican bank, Congressman Cuellar allegedly agreed to influence legislative activity and to advise and pressure high-ranking U.S. Executive Branch officials regarding measures beneficial to the bank.
Congressman Cuellar and Imelda Cuellar are each charged with the following offenses and if convicted, face maximum penalties as indicated: two counts of conspiracy to commit bribery of a federal official and to have a public official act as an agent of a foreign principal, five years in prison on each count; two counts of bribery of a federal official, 15 years in prison on each count; two counts of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, 20 years in prison on each count; two counts of violating the ban on public officials acting as agents of a foreign principal, two years in prison on each count; one count of conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering, 20 years in prison; and five counts of money laundering, 20 years in prison on each count.