Former Florida Congressman David Rivera was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison on Friday following his conviction related to an unregistered lobbying campaign. The charges stemmed from Rivera’s efforts to influence U.S. policy on behalf of the Venezuelan government during the first Trump administration. Prosecutors argued that Rivera failed to register as a foreign agent while receiving millions of dollars to lobby for the Maduro regime.

Rivera, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives and was a long-time associate of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has been held in federal custody without bond since his legal proceedings began. The sentencing marks the conclusion of a high-profile case involving foreign influence operations within American politics. While the court proceedings have focused on the specific violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), the case has drawn significant attention due to Rivera’s past political connections and the nature of his undisclosed international consulting work. Rivera has maintained his position throughout the legal process, though the court ultimately handed down the decade-long sentence for his actions.