U.S. authorities claim that Mexican entrepreneurs have paid bribes to high-ranking Pemex officials
In a series of shocking developments, two men have found themselves at the centre of a bribery scandal that has shaken Mexico's political and energy sectors. Ramón Alexandro Rovirosa Martínez, CEO of Roma Energy, and Mario Alberto Ávila Lizarraga, a former political candidate, are currently under indictment for bribing officials at Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) and its subsidiary Pemex Exploración y Producción (PEP).
According to court documents, the bribery scheme is alleged to have helped secure contracts worth at least $2.5 million for Rovirosa's companies. The bribes included luxury items such as Louis Vuitton bags, Hublot watches, and cash payments. The indictment, reported by Reuters and Monterrey Daily Post, underscores ongoing concerns about corruption within Pemex and highlights the U.S. government's commitment to enforcing anti-bribery laws.
Both men face one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and three substantive violations of the same law. Each count carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. On August 11, 2025, Rovirosa and Ávila were indicted, but Ávila remains a fugitive. Rovirosa, after his arrest, was arraigned and released on a $1 million bail.
Rovirosa's indictment has also brought to light his alleged ties to Mexican cartel members, further complicating the case. The bribery conspiracy took place between 2019 and 2021.
The developments in this case have also sparked significant political discourse. Jeffrey Lichtman, a lawyer known for representing high-profile Sinaloa Cartel members, has made statements that link cartel figures’ legal defense narratives with accusations of corruption in the administration of President Claudia Sheinbaum. Lichtman's comments have led to a defamation lawsuit by Sheinbaum, and have intensified scrutiny and political conflict around issues of corruption and government integrity in Mexico.
As the case unfolds, the public will continue to watch closely as the alleged bribery scandal and its political implications continue to make headlines.
This financial scandal involving Ramón Alexandro Rovirosa Martínez, the CEO of Roma Energy, and Mario Alberto Ávila Lizarraga, a former political candidate, has extended beyond the realms of business and energy, now enveloping the realm of politics and general news, with allegations of corruption within Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) and its subsidiary Pemex Exploración y Producción (PEP). The culture of crime and justice in Mexico is also under scrutiny, as the defendants are accused of bribing officials and face legal consequences, including jail time. The ongoing developments have stirred heated political debates, as the legal defense narratives of cartel figures and accusations of corruption in the administration of President Claudia Sheinbaum come to light.
