Bribing officials at PEMEX, Mexico's national oil company, has led to accusations against two residents from the Houston area.
In a significant move against corruption, two Mexican businessmen, Ramon Alexandro Rovirosa Martinez and Mario Alberto Avila Lizarraga, were indicted by the U.S. authorities on August 11, 2025. The indictment, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, marks a major Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) enforcement action targeting bribery of Mexican energy officials.
The businessmen, who are both Mexican citizens and U.S. lawful permanent residents residing in Texas, stand accused of bribing at least three officials from Mexico’s state-owned oil company PEMEX and its subsidiary PEMEX Exploración y Producción (PEP). The alleged bribes, totalling at least $150,000, were offered in the form of cash and luxury items such as Louis Vuitton bags, Hublot watches, and a $26,000 treadmill.
The bribes were reportedly offered to secure and retain lucrative contracts worth approximately $2.5 million for companies linked to Rovirosa, including facilitating contract awards, assisting with audits, and releasing delayed payments. Rovirosa was arrested in Texas and pleaded not guilty, while Avila remains a fugitive.
The bribery scheme involved directing PEMEX employees to favourably resolve audits and intervene in bidding processes to benefit Rovirosa's companies. The case is part of broader U.S. efforts addressing corruption in the Mexican energy sector, a key player in Mexico’s economy with assets around $109 billion and significant employment.
The indictment is a result of the work of the FBI and law enforcement partners and represents a first major FCPA enforcement in this area after a pause. It highlights ongoing U.S. scrutiny of corruption in cross-border energy dealings involving PEMEX.
Each count carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The defendants are charged with a total of four counts related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). The alleged activities took place between 2019 and 2021.
Court documents also allege Rovirosa has ties to Mexican cartel members. The FBI Criminal Investigation Division reiterates its commitment to fairness for communities in Texas and beyond. DOJ officials emphasized that the indictment sends a message against enriching corrupt officials to the detriment of fair market competition.
The full scope of the case may be connected to wider investigations into corruption and cartel-linked corruption within PEMEX, though those links are not formally included in this indictment. The case underscores the U.S. government's commitment to combating corruption and ensuring fair competition in the energy sector.
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