Full Breakdown
Fernando Cerimedo: From Latin-American Right-Wing Power Broker to Murder-For-Hire Accused
By Drooid · · How we work
The Murder-For-Hire Charge
Bolivian authorities allege that Fernando Cerimedo, 45, orchestrated an attempted femicide against his pregnant mistress, Nadia Beller, 33, a Bolivian lawyer and activist. Security-camera footage captured two assailants dressed as delivery workers ambushing Beller outside a hotel in Santa Cruz; she was shot three times in the upper body but survived. Prosecutors say Cerimedo arranged the hit as “damage control” after Beller threatened to expose his alleged criminal and abusive behavior. He was arrested the following dawn as he prepared to board a flight to Buenos Aires and is now held in Bolivia’s maximum-security Chonchocoro prison while awaiting trial.
Political Rise and Regional Influence
Dubbed the “MAGA man” of Latin America, Cerimedo built a reputation as a digital-campaign guru for right-wing politicians. He helped broker Argentine President Javier Milei’s 2023 interview with Tucker Carlson and was honored at a “Hispanic Prosperity Gala” held at Trump’s Mar-a-Plago estate. He later advised Honduran President Nasry Asfura’s victorious campaign and played a key role in the election of Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz, who broke two decades of leftist rule.
Legal Proceedings and Official Responses
Prosecutors rely on Beller’s testimony that Cerimedo lured her to the hotel by claiming a source would reveal a false rape allegation involving former President Evo Morales. Cerimedo’s defense lawyer, Margarita Arce, questioned whether Beller was pregnant and suggested the attack was staged to smear Cerimedo and undermine the Bolivian government. His former allies, including Milei and Paz, have publicly distanced themselves.
Background and Context of Disinformation Tactics
Cerimedo’s career was marked by exaggerated claims of U.S. ties—assertions of Harvard attendance, Navy SEAL training, and work in the Obama White House that were later debunked. He promoted false election-fraud narratives after Brazil’s 2022 presidential defeat, amplifying the “Brazil Was Stolen” livestream that fueled protests among Bolsonaro supporters.