US jury convicts Venezuelan in cash suitcase case

A federal jury in Miami has convicted a wealthy Venezuelan of acting as an illegal foreign agent in the U.S. to cover up a Latin American political scandal involving a suitcase full of cash. The jury deliberated for seven days after an eight-week trial before delivering the verdict for 41-year-old Franklin Duran. Prosecutors said Duran and others came to Miami on orders of Venezuela's government to ensure the silence of the man who in 2007 carried a suitcase stuffed with $800,000 into Argentina. The U.S. said the money was a political donation to the campaign of Argentina's president. Duran's attorney contended he was entrapped by the FBI and came to Miami only to help out a friend and protect business interests.