A Houston businessman has been convicted by a federal jury for his involvement in a scheme to bribe officials at Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX), Mexico's state-owned oil company, and its subsidiary PEMEX Exploración y Producción (PEP). The verdict was announced on December 5, 2025.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Ramon Alexandro Rovirosa Martinez, a 46-year-old Mexican citizen and lawful permanent resident of the United States living in The Woodlands, Texas, paid over $150,000 in bribes to PEP officials. These payments were made between 2019 and 2021 with the goal of securing contracts and payments from PEMEX and PEP for companies associated with Rovirosa. Evidence presented at trial indicated that Rovirosa and his co-conspirators—including Mario Alberto Avila Lizarraga—offered cash, luxury goods, and other items of value to at least three officials in exchange for favorable business actions. The contracts obtained through these actions were worth at least $2.5 million.
“Alexandro Rovirosa orchestrated a scheme to bribe Mexican officials to benefit himself and his companies,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Bribery of government officials to win business undermines fair competition and unjustly enriches bad actors. In prosecuting this case, the Department has sent a clear message that we will not tolerate bribery and corruption schemes run out of the United States, whether the bribes are paid here or abroad.”
“Most individuals applying for American citizenship treat our laws and customs with respect,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams of the FBI Houston Field Office. “Alexandro Rovirosa instead violated U.S. laws through a network of corruption and deceit. Rovirosa believed his residence in Houston protected him from the consequences of bribing foreign officials. However, as today’s verdict demonstrates, his scheme not only cost him a luxurious Texas lifestyle, but also his freedom.”
“The conviction in this case holds the defendant accountable for participating in a scheme to bribe Mexican government officials for the benefit of the defendant and the companies associated with him,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey D. Pittano of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG), Mid-Atlantic Region. “The FDIC OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate financial crimes, including those involving bribery and corruption.”
Rovirosa was found guilty on one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) as well as two counts of violating FCPA provisions; he was acquitted on one additional count related to FCPA violations. He faces up to 15 years in prison pending sentencing by a federal district court judge.
His alleged co-conspirator Mario Avila is currently considered a fugitive.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations Houston (HSI Houston), FBI Houston Field Office, and FDIC-OIG.
Prosecution is being handled by Trial Attorneys Lindsey Carson, Samad Pardesi, Paul Ream from the Justice Department’s Fraud Section along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Gray from the Southern District of Texas.
The Justice Department’s Fraud Section oversees investigations into violations under FCPA statutes; further details about their work can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.
