WIN pays lobbyist firm US$250k to engage US Govt, businesses

The main parliamentary Opposition party, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), which was founded by Untied States-indicted businessman Azruddin Mohamed, has paid some US$250,000 to a lobbyist firm to engage the US Government as well as businesses there.

According to documents filed with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) on February 24, Wyoming-based LSG LLC is the consulting services firm that was hired by WIN.

“The Registrant will advise the Foreign Principal in developing and cultivating its relationships within the United States government and private sector,” LSG LLC said about the services it would provide to WIN.

In its filings, LSG LLC disclosed that it received US$250,000 in advanced payment from WIN on February 13 for contracted services, which includes the preparation or dissemination of informational materials such as memoranda and other documents created by LSG LLC.

LSG LLC added in its filings that no budget has been established to finance its activities in preparing or disseminating informational materials. These informational materials, according to the document, will be disseminated to groups including US legislators.

It was further stated that no individuals or organisations, including public relations firms or publicity agents, will participate in the preparation or dissemination of informational materials.

The registration document named LSG LLC’s President, Stephen Payne, and Vice President Logan Somera as the persons who will render services directly in the interests of WIN.

Payne had served as aide to former US President George W. Bush. Both him and Somera are said to have close connections to the energy sector in Texas, where they both reside.

WIN’s recruitment of a lobbyist firm comes as its founder, Azruddin Mohamed, who now serves as the Opposition Leader, faces extradition to the US.

Azruddin and his father Nazar Mohamed have been indicted by a federal grand jury in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida on 11 criminal charges, including wire fraud, mail fraud, tax evasion and money laundering. The charges are linked primarily to alleged irregularities in gold exports to the US through their company, Mohamed’s Enterprises.

The US had made a request for the Mohameds to be extradited to face the indictments.

If convicted, most charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and fines of up to US$250,000, while the money laundering charge carries a fine of US$500,000 or the value of the laundered property.

The US Government is also seeking forfeiture of certain assets connected to the accused and has since assigned asset forfeiture specialist, Assistant US Attorney Joshua Paster, to join the case involving the two Guyanese businessmen in the Florida Court, pending their extradition.

These indictments follow sanctions imposed over a year ago by the US Department of Justice’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on the Mohameds, their businesses and Guyanese Government official Mae Thomas in relation to the same allegations.

The sanctions are related to the evasion of taxes on gold exports, with OFAC noting that between 2019 and 2023, Mohamed’s Enterprise omitted more than 10,000 kg of gold from import and export declarations and avoided paying more than US$50 million in duty taxes to the Government of Guyana.

Since the imposition of the sanctions in June 2024, the Guyana Government had suspended the licences of the Mohameds’ various businesses, highlighting that the US-sanctioned businessman is a risk and a threat to Guyana’s financial stability, sovereignty and diplomacy. Subsequently, several Government entities and local businesses, including commercial banks, have cut ties with the Mohameds.

The Mohameds are currently out on $150,000 bail each, as they continue to fight their extradition. The case has been adjourned to March 12.