Former CEO of a former American company 21st Century Fox And Argentine Agency Full Play announce Guilty of corruption by a federal jury in Brooklyn This Thursday, as part of FIFA’s giant bribery scandal that erupted in 2015.
Seven weeks after the experiment, Argentine Hernan Lopezthe former CEO of 21st Century Fox, and the sports marketing company Full Play, was found guilty of all charges (fraud, conspiracy and money laundering) for his participation in schemes to bribe FIFA and Conmebol executives and, in the case Full Play, of CONCACAF, in order to secure broadcast rights to tournaments. profitable football.
Another accused Mexican, Carlos Martinez, also a former Fox executive, was acquitted.
Examining Judge Pamela Chen The sentences, which could be up to 40 years in prison and millions of dollars in fines, have yet to be announced for Lopez and Full Play.. Today’s ruling is an overwhelming victory for justice and for football fans around the world. “The defendants deceived themselves into bribing football officials to act for their own greedy self-interest, not for the sake of the sport,” Brooklyn District Attorney Brion Pace said in a statement following the ruling.
This ruling reflects the continuing commitment of this office to rooting out corruption at the highest levels. Corporations and individuals alike need to understand that no matter their wealth or power, they will be brought to justice if they use the American financial system for corrupt purposes.
Full Play, a sports marketing company incorporated in Uruguay, based in Buenos Aires, and owned by the defendants – father and son – Hugo Jinkis and Mariano Jinkis, was involved in various schemes to pay bribes to Conmebol and Concacaf officials, in exchange for marketing. and broadcasting rights to various football tournaments, including qualifying matches and friendly matches for the World Cup, Copa Libertadores and Copa America. Hugo and Mariano Jenkinsthe defendant in the first charge in the case opened on May 27, 2015, They are still on the run.
The US judiciary alleges that between 2005 and 2015, the defendants “agreed to pay, pay, and facilitate the payment and concealment of annual bribes and illegal kickbacks” to CONMEBOL officials in exchange for lucrative broadcast contracts. From friendly matches to the Copa Libertadores and other soccer events, and to obtaining US broadcast rights for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup matches.
the case
In 2020, Lopez announced himself Not guilty. Then the court hearing the case ruled Guarantee 15 million US dollars, forced him to stay in his house between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am and hand over his passport. “He’s here, he’s staying here, and he’s going to fight this,” Matthew Amhofer, his attorney, said when he heard from the judge. Pamela Chen The charges against the defendant: wire fraud and money laundering. At the time, Amhofer proposed $500,000 bail for Lopez, stressing that he had no intention of fleeing and returning to Argentina. Lopez left Argentina and moved to the United States 20 years ago. At the time of posting the bail, he was the president of the podcast company amazing , to which he was also a contributor.
On April 9, 2020, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, Martinez also pleaded not guilty, agreeing to post $15 million bail, and since then both have Awaiting trial at liberty. According to the FBI (federal police), the defendants “corrupted for many years the administration and business of international soccer with bribery and kickbacks, and engaged in fraudulent criminal schemes that caused serious harm to the sport of soccer.” His schemes included Use of fictitious companiesand bogus consulting contracts and other concealment methods to disguise bribes and kickback payments and make them appear legitimate.”
theThe US justice system has charged about 45 people and several sports companies with more than 90 crimes and with paying or accepting more than $200 million in bribes. Among them were 27 addicts – four of whom died -; Other defendants who have pleaded guilty have been sentenced, and others who have pleaded guilty are still awaiting sentencing. Two others were convicted at trial and received various penalties.
In addition, four companies have pleaded guilty, two more have reached deferred prosecution agreements and two more have paid fines. The awarding of stadiums for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups in Qatar was marked by corruption, according to US justice.
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