The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced on Apr. 16 that it has sanctioned five individuals and seven companies connected to Nicaragua’s gold sector, citing their roles in supporting the Murillo-Ortega government and participating in the seizure of U.S.-owned property.
The Treasury said these actions target entities and people who help generate revenue for Nicaragua’s leadership, maintain political control, or have been involved in confiscating American investments. The list includes Nicaraguan government officials, such as the Vice Minister of Energy and Mines, family members of President Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo serving as state officials, and several gold firms accused of operating under regime influence.
“The Murillo-Ortega dictatorship has sought to fill its own coffers through the use of these gold companies and co-conspirators by confiscating American investments in Nicaragua and using it to generate funds to maintain its political power,” said Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. “The United States will not allow the illicit confiscation of American-owned assets and will continue to target revenue streams that empower the corrupt Murillo-Ortega regime.”
According to the statement, today’s action comes nearly eight years after widespread protests against President Ortega’s rule began in April 2018—a period marked by violent crackdowns resulting in civilian deaths. Since then, U.S. authorities say they have kept diplomatic and economic pressure on Managua with little change from Nicaraguan leaders.
Among those sanctioned are two sons of Ortega and Murillo—Maurice Facundo Ortega Murillo (Presidential Delegate for Sports) and Daniel Edmundo Ortega Murillo (head of Communication Council)—as well as Vice Minister Santiago Hernan Bermudez Tapia. Several mining firms were also named for allegedly funneling profits back into regime operations or helping launder sanctioned assets.
Sanctions block all property interests held by designated persons within U.S. jurisdiction; Americans are generally prohibited from conducting transactions involving them unless specifically licensed by OFAC. Violations may result in civil or criminal penalties for both domestic or foreign actors engaging with listed parties.
Bessent said that enforcement efforts rely on collaboration with agencies like the FBI’s Miami Field Office and Customs’ National Targeting Center: “The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior.” He encouraged those aware of violations to contact FinCEN’s whistleblower program.
