Venezuelan Gets 4 Years in Cash Suitcase Scandal
Monday, March 16, 2009 7:03 PM

MIAMI -- A wealthy Venezuelan enlisted by President Hugo Chavez's government to cover up a cash suitcase political scandal has been sentenced to four years in U.S. prison.

A federal judge in Miami imposed the sentence on 41-year-old Franklin Duran. Duran was convicted in November of conspiracy and acting as an illegal foreign agent.

Duran led a group of South American men who came to Miami in 2007 to cover up the source of the suitcase containing $800,000 in cash that was discovered in Argentina.

Testimony showed the money was a gift from the Chavez government to the campaign of Argentine President Cristina Fernandez.

Three other men pleaded guilty and were also sentenced to prison. One suspect is a fugitive.

http://www.newsmax.com/us/cash_suitcase ... 92516.html