Skip to main content
Menu Icon
Close

InfoBytes Blog

Financial Services Law Insights and Observations

DOJ charges two more in Venezuelan bribery scheme

Financial Crimes DOJ Anti-Money Laundering Bribery Of Interest to Non-US Persons

Financial Crimes

In an indictment unsealed on February 26, the DOJ charged a former sales representative and the president of a U.S.-based company with conspiracy to commit bribery, wire fraud, and money laundering, and substantive wire fraud, for their alleged roles in “a scheme to corruptly secure business advantages, including contracts and payment on past due invoices, from Venezuela’s state-owned and state-controlled energy company.” The indictment alleges that from approximately 2009 to 2013, the sales representative and the president of the company conspired to bribe three of the energy company officials in exchange for providing advantages to the unnamed company, including through the creation of fictitious invoices from Panamanian shell companies. 

According to the indictment, in exchange for the bribes the energy company officials allegedly assisted the company in obtaining additional energy company contracts, inside information, and payment on past due invoices. The defendants are also alleged to have received kickbacks in connection with the scheme. In total, the sales representative is alleged to have received over $985,000 and the president of the company over $258,000 in kickback payments. Two of the three officials that the defendants are accused of bribing have pleaded guilty in connection with the case and are pending sentencing.