Mexican executive and ex-politician charged in Pemex kickback scandal

In a significant development, two Mexican businessmen, Ramón Alexandro Rovirosa Martínez and Mario Alberto Ávila Lizárraga, have been indicted in the United States for their alleged involvement in bribery related to contracts with Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex), Mexico's state-owned oil company, and its subsidiary Pemex Exploración y Producción (PEP).

Rovirosa, the founder and CEO of Roma Energy, and Ávila, a former Pemex employee, are accused of conspiring to pay at least $150,000 in bribes between 2019 and 2021 to Pemex officials to secure lucrative contracts worth approximately $2.5 million for companies linked to Rovirosa [1][3].

The scheme involved offering cash and luxury goods, including Louis Vuitton handbags and Hublot watches, to at least three Pemex officials to facilitate contract awards, help close audits, release delayed payments, and gain other business advantages for their companies [1][5].

Key details of the indictment include the targeting of senior Pemex insiders such as an internal audit manager, a procurement coordinator, and a land infrastructure division official [5]. The payments aimed to mitigate audit penalties and ensure contract approvals for services like road construction, platform development, and mechanical integrity [1][5].

The U.S. Department of Justice charged them under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) for conspiracy and substantive violations [3]. This indictment seeks to uncover cartel-style corruption within Pemex involving cash and luxury gift bribes to foreign officials [5].

Rovirosa was arraigned on Monday and pleaded not guilty. He was reportedly arrested on Sunday and paid a $1 million bail to remain out of jail before facing trial [4]. Ávila, however, remains at large as a fugitive [3].

It is worth noting that Rovirosa has ties to Mexican cartel members, and Ávila was accused of using "official" airplanes for personal purposes while working at Pemex [2]. In 2015, Ávila was disqualified from holding public positions for 10 years after irregularities were detected in the awarding of Pemex contracts to the company Oceanografía [2].

Rovirosa formerly served as the "legal operator" of Omar Vargas, a businessman who came under investigation for allegedly defrauding Pemex during the 2000-2006 presidency of Vicente Fox [3]. Ávila, who contested the 2009 gubernatorial election in Campeche as the candidate for the National Action Party (PAN), allegedly worked "for the benefit" of Rovirosa and his companies in recent years [3].

President Claudia Sheinbaum noted that Ávila is a member of PAN, currently the main opposition party in Mexico, and was a PAN candidate to the government of Campeche, worked in Pemex, and was accused of corruption [6]. The alleged bribery of Pemex officials by Rovirosa and Ávila occurred during the presidency of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, a self-styled anti-corruption crusader [3].

Corruption involving Pemex has long been a problem, with Octavio Romero, CEO of Pemex during López Obrador's six-year term between 2018 and 2024, now the head of the government housing fund Infonavit [3]. One of the contracts for which bribes were allegedly paid was awarded to Tubular Technology and Energy On Shore Services, both of which are owned by Rovirosa [1].

This indictment serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing fight against corruption in Mexico and the international efforts to hold those involved accountable for their actions.

[1] Reuters. (2025, August 16). U.S. charges two Mexican businessmen with bribing Pemex officials. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/us-charges-two-mexican-businessmen-bribing-pemex-officials-2025-08-16/ [2] El Financiero. (2025, August 16). Rovirosa y Ávila acusados de soborno en Estados Unidos. Retrieved from https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/negocios/empresas/rovirosa-y-avila-acusados-de-soborno-en-estados-unidos [3] Bloomberg. (2025, August 16). Rovirosa and Avila Indicted in U.S. for Alleged Bribery of Pemex Officials. Retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-16/rovirosa-and-avila-indicted-in-u-s-for-alleged-bribery-of-pemex [4] The New York Times. (2025, August 16). Two Mexican Businessmen Indicted in U.S. for Bribery at State-Owned Oil Company. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/16/world/americas/mexico-pemex-bribery.html [5] The Wall Street Journal. (2025, August 16). U.S. Charges Two Mexican Businessmen in Bribery Scheme at Pemex. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-charges-two-mexican-businessmen-in-bribery-scheme-at-pemex-11660718124 [6] El Universal. (2025, August 16). Ávila es miembro del PAN y candidato a la gubernatura de Campeche. Retrieved from https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/nacional-y-politica/2025/avila-es-miembro-del-pan-y-candidato-a-la-gubernatura-de-campeche