What happens in Vegas apparently don't always stay in Vegas.


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Source



Twenty-two executives and employees at suppliers to the military and law enforcement agencies were arrested on the eve of their industry's annual trade show in Las Vegas after a 2 1/2-year undercover sting operation aimed at schemes to bribe a foreign official.

The Justice Department called the case the largest single investigation and prosecution of individuals in the history of the 1977 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which bars bribery of foreign government officials. It also is the first large-scale use of an undercover operation in enforcing the corrupt practices act.

In a briefing for reporters, Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer, head of the Justice Department's criminal division, said there are more than 140 open investigations under the act.

Twenty-one of the 22 people caught up in the case were arrested in Las Vegas, where they were preparing to attend the 2010 Shooting, Hunting & Outdoor Trade Show, a convention with more than 55,000 attendees at the Sands Expo & Convention Center. The convention started Tuesday.

Charged are people at companies in eight states and executives at companies in the United Kingdom and Israel.

The defendants allegedly agreed to pay a 20 percent commission to a sales agent they believed represented the defense minister for an African country. They were trying to win a multimillion-dollar deal to outfit the presidential guard.

The sales agent was actually an undercover FBI agent, and no defense minister was involved at all.

In Las Vegas, word of the arrests came as a surprise to show organizers, said Mark Thomas, marketing and communications manager for the show host, the National Shooting Sports Foundation of Newtown, Conn. Thomas referred questions about the arrests to the FBI and Justice Department.

Those charged worked for companies in Arkansas, Virginia, Florida, California, Massachusetts, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Kentucky.

Indictments against each of the 22 individuals alleges conspiracy and substantive violations of the corrupt practices act and conspiracy to engage in money laundering. The charges relating to the corrupt practices act carry a maximum five-year prison sentence on conviction.

The maximum sentence for money laundering conspiracy is 20 years.


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Well thank you mr. holder.

Uh... Was he AG 2 1/2 years ago?

The splash effect of doing it at SHOT is something to Hold against him though.

Why should our politicians and LEO's care if an american supplier of whatever uses the normal practices og graft etc to secure a contract from a corrupt foriegn company?

WOW!

http://www.fox5vegas.com/news/22276904/detail.html

DOJ Press release.

http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/January/10-crm-048.html

Isn't this Smith and Wesson:

Payoffs are simply a business expense in the third world, and despite our high standard of civilization in this country, they can grease the wheels here too.

Think our government or any of our investigative arms have ever passed a few bucks under the counter to get our way before. Not saying is right to exercise position, but it goes on all the time.

"The defendants allegedly agreed to pay a 20 percent commission to a sales agent they believed represented the defense minister for an African country. They were trying to win a multimillion-dollar deal to outfit the presidential guard."

It is common to pay commission to sales agents although 20% seems excessive. The Feds must have written documentation or tapes to substantiate that the sales agent was a front for the defense minister. The companies involved must also have neglected to "contribute" to the right people in DC.

The whole premise of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act demonstrates that our politicians are incredibly naive.

Was this written two and half years ago?

Holder's you man?

Excerpt from the original text. This has been in the works for a while........

Thanks Dan, you saw my point...

Doesn't matter it was exacuted under holder.

Couple of things to keep in mind...

Any company that does business outside the US is very well aware of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. It is part of most companies policies.

Second, while it may seem harmless, it has a big impact on those operations that do obey the law. Some of these companies are public, and illicit earnings are something that can impact the public's confidence in our financial markets.

Third, just where do you think many of these African countries get the funds for security and protection? You and me, via out tax dollars going overseas. When the assistance we provide is diverted from its intended purpose, the US taxpayer is not getting the bang they expect for their buck.

Third, one if not the biggest impediments to progress and stability in the third world is rampant corruption. Corrpution is not conducive to stable allies of the US, and provides those that harbor ill will to us with a platform and opportunity for inflicting damage upon the US.

And finally, only elected members of the US Congress are immune from paying bribes, so long as they channel them to one another. Congress jealously guards the grant of a license to steal. Good thing a law similar the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act did not apply to the health care negotiations, huh?

That's sure a bunch of foreign sounding names among those arrested.


Mike

Chit...now you got him all confused and riled up.

Yes it is.

While there is not enough information to comment upon the sting or the charges, it was clever and a wise use of resources to pick up everyone at the SHOT show instead of serving simultaneous warrants all over the country. Some of the people may not have been in the country but for the SHOT show.

Third, just where do you think many of these African countries get the funds for security and protection? You and me, via out tax dollars going overseas. When the assistance we provide is diverted from its intended purpose, the US taxpayer is not getting the bang they expect for their buck.

Third Fourth, one if not the biggest impediments to progress and stability in the third world is rampant corruption. Corrpution is not conducive to stable allies of the US, and provides those that harbor ill will to us with a platform and opportunity for inflicting damage upon the US.

There, I fixed it for you.

I wonder how much the FBI and company spent for this 2 1/2 year investigation and will spend now withing the court process? For something that is normal business practices around the world. It's like the local police in my area. When they want to get some publicity (and funds) they raid some of these little mom and pop casinos that the local government bodies already collect a liscensing fee to do business. Makes the front page of the paper every time.

Why is this not entrapment?

MM

We don't know enough about it yet to say one way or the other.

Remember Ted Stevens? The FBI picked him up, too. Just because the fibbies lower the boom doesn't mean their guilty.

Based on the information available, I find this story shameful for the FBI and the spirit of law enforcement.

America does not need - nor deserves - this kind of police methods.

Hmm...I wonder what African country was alleged?

After the FBI finishes this case, they can start one in Congress!

Next, they need to investigate members of Congress and the president for bribing government officials to cast their vote for Obamacare. If I were to do that to a government official, they'd certainly investigate me for bribing government officials. Members of Congress and the president are not above the law.

Quoted from Tam's blog:

Meanwhile, the actual sales in the real country probably went to Israeli Military Industries, Fabrique Nationale of Belgium, Norinco in China, the Russians at Izhmash, or some other company in a country that was more worried about closing the deal and keeping their workers employed than in observing First World business niceties in the land of the mordida.

http://booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com/

kudos they've sent a strong message


if you're going to use payola to get stuff done, charity starts at home!

can't be having that money go overseas! (grin)

That'll be the day..............

MM

Yeah, big bad gun show guys.....it's like the local police w/ radar set up at the edge of town and leave the meth lab at the mayor's house alone.....Don't want to cause real trouble.

Couldn't agree more