Former Florida congressman David Rivera was convicted on charges related to secretly lobbying on behalf of Venezuelan interests without registering as a foreign agent, a federal jury determined. Rivera, a Republican who represented Florida in the U.S. House from 2011 to 2013, was found guilty along with a co-defendant in the case.

The charges centered on violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), a federal law requiring individuals who act on behalf of foreign governments or entities to publicly disclose their activities. Prosecutors alleged that Rivera conducted lobbying work tied to Venezuela without making the legally required disclosures to U.S. authorities.

Rivera's co-defendant, identified in reporting as Esther Nuhfer, was also found guilty in connection with the scheme. The case highlighted ongoing federal enforcement efforts around foreign influence operations, particularly those linked to governments considered adversarial to U.S. interests.

The conviction represents a significant legal outcome in a case that had been closely watched given Rivera's former status as a U.S. elected official. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. Rivera had denied wrongdoing throughout the proceedings.