FCPA PROSECUTIONS AND CIVIL ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS
BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (1)
I. Pre-Act Criminal Prosecutions:
U.S. v. J. Ray McDermott & Co. Inc., E.D. Louisiana, 1978.
U.S. v. Bethlehem Steel Corporation, (80 Cr. No. 0431), S.D.N.Y., 1980.
U.S. v. The Williams Companies, (Cr. No. 78-00144), D.D.C., 1978 [Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act].
The company paid a fine and civil penalty of $187,000./P>
U.S. v. Control Data Corporation, (Cr. No. 78-00210), D.D.C., 1978 [Mail Fraud and Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act].
The corporation paid a fine and civil penalty of $1,381,000.
U.S. v. Westinghouse Electric Company, (Cr. No. 78-00566), D.D.C., 1978 [False statements to Export-Import Bank and Agency for International Development].
The company paid a fine of $300,000.
U.S. v. United Brands Company, (Cr. No. 78-538), S.D.N.Y., 1978 [Mail Fraud].
The company paid a fine of $15,000.
U.S. v. United States Lines, Inc., (Cr. No. ), D.D.C., [Conspiracy to defraud the Federal Maritime Administration].
The company paid a fine of $5,000.
U.S. v. Sea-Land Services, Inc., (Cr. No. 78-103), D.D.C. 1978 [Conspiracy to defraud the Federal Maritime Administration].
The company paid a fine of $5,000.
U.S. v. Seatrain Lines, Inc., (Cr. No. 78-49) [Conspiracy to defraud the Federal Maritime Administration and Currency Transactions Reporting Act].
The company and a subsidiary each paid fines of $260,000.
U.S. v. Lockheed Corporation, (Cr. No. 79-00270), D.D.C., 1979 [Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act, Wire Fraud, false statements to Export-Import Bank].
The company paid a fine and civil penalties of $647,000.
U.S. v. Gulfstream American Corporation, (Cr. No. 79-00007), D.D.C., 1979 [False Statements to Export-Import Bank and Commerce Department].
The company paid a fine of $120,000.
U.S. v. Page Airways, Inc., (Cr. No. 7900273), D.D.C., 1978 [Currency and Foreign Transactions Report Act].
The company paid a fine and civil penalty of $52,647.
U.S. v. Textron, Inc.(Cr. No. 79-00330), D.D.C, 1979 [Currency and Foreign Transactions Report Act].
The company paid a fine and civil penalty of $131,670.
U.S. v. McDonnell Douglas Corporation., et al., (Cr. No. 79-516), D.D.C., [Mail Fraud, Wire Fraud, conspiracy, false statements to Export-Import Bank].
II. FCPA Criminal Prosecutions:
U.S. v. Kenny International Corp., (Cr. No. 79-372), D.D.C., 1979.
The company pled to one count of violating the FCPA and consented to an injunction against further FCPA violations. The corporation was fined $50,000 and required to pay restitution to the Cook Islands government in the amount of NZ $337,000.
The chairman of Kenny Int'l consented to a civil injunction and agreed to enter a plea of guilty to criminal charges pending in the Cook Islands.
U.S. v. Crawford Enterprises, Inc., Donald G. Crawford, William E. Hall, Mario S. Gonzalez, Ricardo G. Beltran, Andres I. Garcia, George S. McLean, Luis A. Uriarte, Al L. Eyster and James R. Smith, (Cr. No. H-82-224), S.D.Tx, Houston Division, 1982. Crawford Ent. Pled no contest Fined $3,450,000
D. Crawford Pled no contest Fined $309,000
W. Hall Pled no contest Fined $150,000
A. Garcia Pled no contest Fined $75,000
A. Eyster Pled no contest Fined $5,000
J. Smith Pled no contest Fined $5,000
G. McLean Acquitted
U.S. v. C.E. Miller Corporation and Charles E. Miller, (Cr. No. 82-788), C.D. Cal., 1982.
The corporation pled guilty and was fined $20,000. The individual defendant pled guilty and was sentenced to three years probation and 500 hours community service.
U.S. v. Marquis King, (Cr. No. 83-00020), D.D.C., 1983.
The defendant pled guilty to violations of Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act and was sentenced to 14 months incarceration and required to pay prosecution costs.
U.S. v. Ruston Gas Turbines, Inc., (Cr. No. H-82-207), S.D. Tex., 1982.
The corporation pled guilty to a FCPA violation and was fined $750,000.
U.S. v. International Harvester Company, (Cr. No. 82-244), S.D. Tex., 1982.
The corporation pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the FCPA and was fined $10,000 plus costs of $40,000.
An individual defendant also pled guilty to one count and was sentenced to one year incarceration (suspended).
U.S. v. Applied Process Products Overseas, Inc., (Cr. No. 83-00004), D.D.C., 1983.
The company pled guilty to a FCPA violation and was fined $5,000. In addition it consented to a permanent civil injunction.
U.S. v. Gary Bateman, (Cr. No. 83-00005), D.D.C., 1983.
The defendant pled guilty to 5 CFTR misdemeanors and was sentenced to three years probation. In addition, he agreed to pay a civil penalty of $229,512, a civil tax payment of $300,000, and costs of prosecution of $5,000.
U.S. v. Sam P. Wallace Company, Inc., (Cr. No. 83-0034) (PG), D.P.R., 1983.
The corporation pled guilty to three counts of FCPA accounting violations and was fined $30,000. In addition, it also pled guilty to to a CFTR violation and was fined $500,000.
U.S. v. Alfonso A. Rodriguez, (Cr. No. 83-0044 (JP)), D.P.R., 1983.
The defendant pled guilty to one count of FCPA bribery and was sentenced to three years probation and fined $10,000.
U.S. v. Harry G. Carpenter and W.S. Kirkpatrick, Inc., (Cr. No. 85-353), D.N.J., 1985.
The corporation pled guilty to a FCPA violation and was fined $75,000.
The individual defendant pled guilty to one count FCPA bribery and was sentenced to three years probation, community service, and a fine of $10,000.
U.S. v. Silicon Contractors, Inc., Diversified Group, Inc., Herbert D. Hughes, Ronald R. Richardson, Richard L. Noble and John Sherman, (Cr. No. 85-251), E.D. La., 1985.
The corporation pled guilty to a FCPA violation, agreed to a permanent civil injunction, and was fined $150,000.
Hughes, Richardson, Noble and Sherman agreed to permanent injunctions in a civil case.
U.S. v. NAPCO International, Inc. and Venturian Corporation, (Cr. No. 4-89-65), D. Minn., 1989.
The defendants pled guilty to three counts of FCPA bribery and were fined $785,000. In addition, they paid $140,000 in a civil settlement and $75,000 to settle tax charges.
U.S. v. Richard H. Liebo, (Cr. No. 4-89-76), D. Minn., 1989.
The defendant was convicted of FCPA bribery and false statements and was sentenced to 18 months incarceration (suspended) with three years probation.
U.S. v. Goodyear International Corp., (Cr. No. 89-0156), D.D.C, 1989.
The corporation pled guilty to one count of FCPA bribery and was fined $250,000.
United States v. Joaquin Pou, Alfredo G. Duran, and Jose Guasch (S.D. Fla. 1989); U.S. v. Robert Neil Gurin (S.D. Fla. 1989).
Guasch and Gurin pled guilty to conspiracy to violate the FCPA; Duran was acquitted at trial; Pou jumped bail.
U.S. v. Young Rubicam Inc., Arthur R. Klein, Thomas Spangenberg, Arnold Foote Jr., Eric Anthony Abrahams, and Steven M. McKenna, (Cr. No. N-89-68 (PCD)), D. Conn., 1990.
The company pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate FCPA and was fined $500,000.
U.S. v. George V. Morton, (Cr. No. 3-90-061-H), N.D. Tex. (Dallas Div.), 1990.
The defendant pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate FCPA and was sentenced to three years probation.
U.S. v. John Blondek, Vernon R. Tull, Donald Castle and Darrell W.T. Lowry, (Cr. 741), N.D. Tex. 1990
Two of the defendants were acquitted at trial. The charges were dismissed against the two remaining defendants. In separate cases, the Canadian agent, Morton, pled to conspiracy to violate the FCPA and the company agreed to a civil injunction enjoining it from future violations of the FCPA.
U.S. v. F.G. Mason Engineering and Francis G. Mason, (Case No. B-90-29), JAC, D. Conn. 1990.
The corporation pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the FCPA, was fined $75,000, and was required to pay restitution of $160,000.
The individual defendant also pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the FCPA, was sentenced to 5 years probation, and was fined $75,000 (joint with Company).
U.S. v. Harris Corporation, John D. Iacobucci and Ronald L. Schultz, (Cr. No. 90-0456), N.D. Cal., 1990.
The court granted a motion for judgment of acquittal at the close of the government's case.
U.S. v. Herbert Steindler, Rami Dotan, and Harold Katz, (Cr. No. 194-29), S.D. Ohio 1994.
One defendant pled guilty to three counts of conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering and was sentenced to 84 months incarceration and required to forfeit $1,741,453. The remaining defendants are fugitives.
U.S. v. Vitusa Corporation, (Cr. No. 94-253)(MTB), D.N.J., 1994.
The corporation pled guilty to a FCPA violation and was fined $20,000.
U.S. v. Denny Herzberg, (Cr. No. 94-254)(MTB), D.N.J., 1994.
The defendant pled guilty to a FCPA violation and was sentenced to two years probation and fined $5,000.
U.S. v. Lockheed Corporation, Suleiman A. Nassar and Allen R. Love, (Cr. No. 1:94-Cr-22-016), N.D., Ga. Atlanta Div. 1994.
The corporation pled guilty to conspiracy to violate the FCPA and was fined $21.8 million. In addition, it had to pay a $3 million civil settlement. Defendant Nassar pled guilty to two counts and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment. Defendant Love pled guilty to one count in a related case and was fined $20,000.
U.S. v. David H. Mead and Frerik Pluimers, (Cr. 98-240-01) D.N.J., Trenton Div. 1998.
Defendant Mead was convicted following a jury trial of conspiracy to violate the FCPA and the Travel Act (incorporating New Jersey's commercial bribery statute) and two counts each of substantive violations of the FCPA and the Travel Act. Defendant Mead was sentenced, after a departure from the Guidelines, to four months imprisonment, four months home detention, three years supervised release, and a $20,000 fine. Defendant Pluimers remains at large.
U.S. v. Herbert K. Tannenbaum, (98 Cr. 784) S.D.N.Y. 1998.
Defendant pled guilty to conspiracy to violate the FCPA. The defendant was sentenced to one year and a day imprisonment and a $15,000 fine.
U.S. v. Saybolt, Inc. & Saybolt North America Inc. (98 Cr 10266 WGY) D. Mass. 1998.
Defendant companies pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the FCPA and one substantive violation of the FCPA and were sentenced to pay a $1,500,000 fine and five years probation.
United States v. Control System Specialist, Inc., and Darrold Richard Crites (Cr-3-98-073) S.D. Ohio, Dayton Division, 1998.
Defendants pled guilty to conspiracy to violate the FCPA and to pay an illegal gratuity to a federal employee and substantive violations of the FCPA and 18 U.S.C. § 201(c)(1)(A). Crites was sentenced to three years probation and 150 hours community service; the company was sentenced to a fine of $1500 and one year probation.
United States v. IMS and Donald Qualey (Cr.3-99-008) S.D. Ohio, Dayton Division, 1999
Defendants pled guilty to conspiracy to violate the FCPA and to a substantive count. IMS was defunct at sentencing and was sentenced to a fine of $1,000. Defendant Qualey, after a departure from the Guidelines, was sentenced to a fine of $5,000, home confinement for four months, and 150 hours of community service.
United States v. Robert Richard King and Pablo Barquero Hernandez (01-00190-01/02-CR-W) W.D. Mo. 2001; United States v. Richard Halford (01-00221-01-Cr-W-1); United States v. Albert Reitz (01-00222-01-Cr-W-1)
Two defendants pleaded to FCPA conspiracy; sentencing is pending. Two defendants indicted for conspiracy, FCPA, and Travel Act violations in connections with an agreement to bribe officials and political parties to obtain a land concession. Trial is pending.
United States v. Joshua Cantor (No. 01 Cr. 687) S.D.N.Y. 2001
Defendant pled to conspiracy to violate the FCPA and various securities fraud charges. Sentencing is pending. Related SEC complaints and orders filed against American Banknote Holographics Inc., Cantor, and Morris Weissman (see SEC Litigation Release 17068A).
United States v. David Kay (No. 4-01-914) S.D. Tex. 2001
Trial pending.
United States v. Gautam Sengupta (No. ______) D.D.C. 2002
Defendant pled to mail fraud conspiracy and FCPA. Sentencing is pending.
III. FCPA Civil Injunctive Actions:
U.S. v. Roy J. Carver and E. Eugene Holley, (Civ. No. 79-1768), S.D. Fl., 1979.
Carver and Holley consented to permanent injunctions from future violations of FCPA.
U.S. v. Finbar B. Kenny, et al., (Civ. 79-2038), 1979.
U.S. v. Dornier GmbH (D. Minn. 1990).
U.S. v. Eagle Manufacturing, Inc., (Civil Action No. B-91-171), S.D. Tex., 1991.
U.S. v. American Totalisator Company Inc., 1993.
The corporation consented to permanent injunction from future violations of FCPA.
U.S. v. Metcalf & Eddy, Inc., (No. 99CV12566-NG), D. Mass. 1999
The corporation consented to a permanent injunction from future violations of the FCPA, agreed to make specific improvements to its compliance program and to submit to periodic audits, agreed to pay a $400,000 civil penalty and $50,000 costs of investigation.
U.S. & SEC v. KMPG Siddharta Siddharta & Harsono and Sonny Harsono (Civ. Action No. H-01-3105), S.D. Tex. 2001
In a joint complaint, the SEC & DOJ charged the defendants with violations of the FCPA. Without admitting or denying the allegations, the defendants consented to the entry of a Final Judgment that enjoined them from violating the antibribery and books and records provisions of the FCPA. See SEC Litigation Release 17127. For related SEC actions against Baker Hughes and two of its executives, see SEC Litigation Release 17126 and Administrative Action No. 3-10572.
IV. FCPA Accounting Cases (since January 2000)
U.S. v. UNC/Lear Services (No. 3:CR-31-J), W.D. Ky. 2000
In connection with falsely stating to the Defense Department that it had paid no foreign agents in a FMIS contract, the corporation pleaded guilty to violations of the mail fraud, false statement, and FCPA accounting statutes and agreed to pay a $75,000 fine, $768,000 in restitution, and $132,000 in civil penalties.
U.S. v. Daniel Ray Rothrock (No.SA01CR343OG), W.D. Tex. 2001
In connection with authorizing the payment and entry on Allied Product's books of a false invoice to cover payments in Russia, the defendant agreed to plead guilty to a violation of the FCPA's books and records provision. Sentencing is pending.
V. Independent SEC Enforcement Actions (since January 2000)
SEC v. International Business Machines
SEC v. Chiquita Brands International
VI. Other Cases:
U.S. v. General Electric Company, (Cr. No. 1-92-87), S.D. Ohio 1992.
U.S. v. Benjamin Sonnenschein, (Cr. No. 92-680) E.D.N.Y. 1992.
U.S. v. Gary S. Klein, (Cr. No. 1-93-53) S.D. Ohio 1993.
U.S. v. National Airmotive Corporation, (DKT. No. CD93-377-CAL) N.D. Cal. 1993.
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1 The SEC, of course, has independent jurisdiction to bring civil enforcement actions against issuers and directors, officers, employees, agents, and shareholders of issuers.
It seems to me that most of these fines are in the "normal cost of doing business" amounts. $300,000.00 to Westinghouse? I'm sure it hurts to have to pay it but that's probably what the summer electric bill is for a couple months in the Georgetown plant.
Lockheed really got zapped for $21.8 mil. I wonder whom they made angry.
The Herbert Steindler, Rami Dotan, and Harold Katz case sounds more like organized crime than someone trying to do legitimate business. 7 years in the slam seems a bit harsh compared to all the other suspended sentences & probation most of the others got; plus, the rest of the guys from this group seem to have skipped the country.
Others who actually went to jail spent from 4 months to one year plus probation.
The vast majority got probation or suspended sentences.
I still think the law is dumb and needs to go away. Some have argued that it’s American aid dollars that are used to buy the products that are being sold. I say, “So What?” I’d much rather American aid dollars go an American company.
But what do I know?? I'm just some dude.
Oh well, I guess this thread needs to peter out and go to bed.