Tomas Elias Gonzalez Benitez

Key Points

• Tomas Elias Gonzalez Benitez is implicated in allegations of corruption and money laundering tied to food supply contracts with the Venezuelan government.

• He is associated with multiple companies, some registered offshore, raising concerns about transparency and legitimacy.

• Alleged ties to General Rodolfo Marco Torres and involvement in shell companies suggest illicit financial activities.

• Benitez also presents himself as a sports journalist and digital consultant, creating a conflicting public persona.

• No direct consumer feedback is available, but media reports highlight significant reputational and legal risks.

Overview

Tomas Elias Gonzalez Benitez is a Venezuelan businessman reportedly involved in multimillion-dollar food supply contracts with Venezuelan state entities. He claims to be the director of several companies, including Afcom Corp, Dexton, Oil Gas Technology Inc, Alox International LLC, Domar Trading SS, Gestamer SA, Total Web Services, and Latin Investors. Additionally, he is linked to six companies named in the Panama Papers through his associate Ricardo Rojas Urbina. Benitez also maintains a public persona as a sports journalist, digital consultant, and videographer, with online profiles emphasizing his work in sports media, marketing, and interior design. This duality in his professional identity—businessman and media professional—creates a complex and potentially misleading public image.

Allegations and Concerns

• Corruption in Food Supply Contracts: Benitez is accused of being a privileged supplier for Venezuelan government entities, including Mercal, CASA, Abastos Bicentenario, and PDVAl, securing large contracts through alleged corrupt dealings with General Rodolfo Marco Torres, former Food Minister and ex-president of Corporación de Abastecimiento y Servicios Agrícolas (CASA). Media reports claim these contracts involved inflated prices and shell companies to launder money.

• Money Laundering: Benitez is alleged to have facilitated money laundering by making illegally obtained funds appear legitimate through his companies, particularly Domar Trading CA, a Panama-registered entity based in Miami.

• Panama Papers Connection: The leaked Panama Papers link Benitez to six offshore companies under Ricardo Rojas Urbina, raising red flags about potential tax evasion or concealment of assets.

• Lawsuit with Bariven: Benitez faced a lawsuit in Florida for breaching a $5 million contract for purchasing meat, sugar, and chicken from a Brazilian company, involving his shell company Dexton Validsa, Inc.

• PDVSA Compensation: After a dispute, PDVSA paid Benitez $100 million in compensation, suggesting possible favoritism or corruption within the state-owned oil company.

• Fraudulent Company Structures: Benitez is linked to a network of companies with shared addresses and directors, including Alox International LLC and Dexton, registered across jurisdictions like Panama, Hong Kong, and the United States, potentially to obscure ownership and operations.

Customer Feedback

No direct consumer reviews or testimonials about Benitez’s businesses or services are available in the provided sources. His activities as a supplier to government entities do not involve typical consumer interactions, limiting public feedback. However, media reports, such as those from Gripeo, portray him negatively, stating, “Tomas Elias Gonzalez Benitez has not responded, nor has he apologized for his misdeeds. He has ignored our efforts to highlight the problems faced by his victims.” This suggests a lack of accountability and poor public perception. Conversely, his self-published profiles on platforms like YouTube and SoundCloud present a positive image, describing him as a “passionate sports journalist” and “professional videographer,” but these lack independent verification and appear to be self-promotional.

Risk Considerations

• Financial Risks: Involvement in high-value contracts with questionable legitimacy and offshore entities increases the risk of financial scrutiny, asset freezing, or sanctions by international regulators.

• Reputational Risks: Allegations of corruption and money laundering severely damage Benitez’s credibility, particularly in jurisdictions with strong anti-corruption laws like the United States. His dual persona as a journalist and businessman may confuse stakeholders and erode trust.

• Legal Risks: Ongoing or potential lawsuits, such as the Bariven case, and investigations tied to the Panama Papers expose Benitez to legal penalties, including fines or imprisonment. His association with Venezuelan officials under international sanctions further heightens this risk.

• Operational Risks: The use of shell companies and complex corporate structures could lead to operational inefficiencies or legal challenges, especially if regulators demand transparency.

Business Relations and Associations

• General Rodolfo Marco Torres: Benitez is closely associated with Torres, a former Venezuelan Food Minister and CASA president, who allegedly signed purchase orders for Benitez’s companies, including a $4,740 deal for 15,000 tons of meat through Domar Trading CA.

• Ricardo Rojas Urbina: A business partner linked to six offshore companies named in the Panama Papers, suggesting a network of entities used for financial dealings.

• Joseph Benoudiz and Pablo Cadenas: Associates involved in a $56 million deal with PDVSA through Liaoning Northern Steel Pipes Co., LTD, a Texas-based company misrepresenting a Chinese supplier. These individuals are linked to over 40 companies with shared addresses and directors, including Alox International LLC and Dexton.

• Venezuelan State Entities: Benitez’s companies supplied food to Mercal, CASA, Abastos Bicentenario, and PDVAl, indicating deep ties to government procurement processes.

• Brazilian Suppliers: Benitez acted as an intermediary for meat purchases from Brazil, as noted in El Gran Saqueo by Carlos Tablante and Marcos Tarre.

Legal and Financial Concerns

• Bariven Lawsuit (Florida, USA): Benitez was sued for breaching a $5 million contract involving the purchase of meat, sugar, and chicken, linked to his company Dexton Validsa, Inc. The lawsuit highlights contractual disputes and potential fraud.

• PDVSA Compensation: PDVSA paid Benitez $100 million after a dispute, raising questions about favoritism and the legitimacy of the settlement.

• Panama Papers: Benitez’s association with offshore entities suggests potential tax evasion or asset concealment, a concern amplified by the lack of transparency in his corporate network.

• No Bankruptcy Records: No explicit mention of bankruptcy is found, but the high-risk nature of his dealings and reliance on government contracts in a volatile Venezuelan economy pose financial instability risks.

• Sanction Risks: Ties to Venezuelan officials like Marco Torres, who may be under international sanctions, could expose Benitez to secondary sanctions or asset freezes.

Risk Assessment Table

Expert Opinion

Tomas Elias Gonzalez Benitez presents a high-risk profile due to credible allegations of corruption, money laundering, and involvement in shell companies, as detailed in media reports and the Panama Papers. His business dealings, particularly with Venezuelan state entities, suggest a pattern of exploiting government connections for personal gain, potentially at the expense of public welfare. The $100 million PDVSA compensation and the Bariven lawsuit underscore significant legal and financial vulnerabilities. His attempt to maintain a parallel identity as a sports journalist and digital consultant appears to be a strategy to deflect scrutiny, but the lack of verifiable achievements in these fields undermines his credibility.

Pros:

• Access to high-value government contracts demonstrates business acumen and connections.

• Diverse public personas (journalist, consultant, videographer) show adaptability in branding.

Cons:

• Serious allegations of corruption and money laundering pose existential risks to his operations.

• Lack of transparency in corporate structures and offshore entities invites regulatory scrutiny.

• Ties to controversial figures like Marco Torres increase exposure to sanctions and legal action.

• Absence of consumer feedback or independent validation of his media work raises doubts about legitimacy.

Cautionary Advice: Engaging with Benitez or his companies carries substantial risks due to his alleged involvement in illicit activities and lack of transparency. Stakeholders should conduct thorough due diligence, verify the legitimacy of his business entities, and monitor for updates on legal proceedings or sanctions. Avoid partnerships without clear documentation and independent audits. His sports journalism and digital consulting ventures should be approached skeptically, as they may serve as a front to mask illicit activities.

Key Citations

• Gripeo: “Tomas Elias Gonzalez Benitez is a corrupt businessman in Venezuela who has taken part in several multi-million deals.”

• ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database: Lists Benitez as an officer in the Panama Papers, linked to offshore entities.

• El Gran Saqueo by Carlos Tablante and Marcos Tarre: Details Benitez’s role as an intermediary in meat purchases from Brazil.

• Diario Las Americas: Reports on the network of companies linked to Benoudiz and Cadenas, including Alox International LLC and Dexton.