Post by rugerredhawk on Jan 22, 2010 20:43:41 GMT -5
FBI: Vegas Arrests Linked To Bribery Plot
Undercover Investigation Linked To Gun Execs
POSTED: 3:06 pm PST January 19, 2010
UPDATED: 3:36 pm PST January 19, 2010
LAS VEGAS -- An undercover investigation into bribery of foreign officials led to 21 arrests in Las Vegas, the FBI announced Tuesday.
A 22nd person was arrested in Miami. All of the defendants are executives or employees of military and law enforcement suppliers, including companies that make firearms and body armor.
None of the people arrested are from Las Vegas, but all were in town for the 2010 Shooting, Hunting & Outdoor Trade Show, which began today at the Sands Expo & Convention Center.
Authorities said the defendants were part of a scheme to bribe a minister of defense in an unnamed African company in exchange for a portion of a $15 million deal to outfit the country’s presidential guard.
The minister of defense never existed, the FBI said, and instead an undercover agent acted as the “sales agent.”
“Corrupt payments to foreign officials to obtain or retain business erode public confidence in our free market system and threaten to undermine foreign governments,” said U.S. Attorney Channing Phillips.
About 150 FBI agents served 14 search warrants around the country as part of the investigation.
Indictments allege the defendants conspired to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, conspired to engage in money laundering, and engaged in substantive violations of the FCPA.
Those charged include:
· Daniel Alvirez, 32, and Lee Allen Tolleson, 25, the president and director of acquisitions and logistics at a company in Bull Shoals, Ark., that manufactures and sells law enforcement and military equipment.
· Helmie Ashiblie, 44, the vice president and founder of a company in Woodbridge, Va., that supplies tactical bags and other security-related articles for law enforcement agencies and governments worldwide.
· Andrew Bigelow, 40, the managing partner and director of government programs for a Sarasota, Fla., company that sells machine guns, grenade launchers and other small arms and accessories.
· R. Patrick Caldwell, 61, and Stephen Gerard Giordanella, 50, the current and former chief executive officers of a Sunrise, Fla., company that designs and manufactures concealable and tactical body armor.
· Yochanan R. Cohen, aka Yochi Cohen, 47, the chief executive officer of a San Francisco company that manufactures security equipment, including body armor and ballistic plates.
· Haim Geri, 50, the president of a North Miami Beach, Fla., company that serves as a sales agent for companies in the law enforcement and military products industries.
· Amaro Goncalves, 49, the vice president of sales for a Springfield, Mass., company that designs and manufactures firearms, firearm safety/security products, rifles, firearms systems and accessories
· John Gregory Godsey, aka Greg Godsey, 37, and Mark Frederick Morales, 37, the owner and agent of a Decatur, Ga., company that sells ammunition and other law enforcement and military equipment
· Saul Mishkin, 38, the owner and chief executive officer of an Aventura, Fla., company that sells law enforcement and military equipment.
· John M. Mushriqui, 28, and Jeana Mushriqui, 30, the director of international development and general counsel/U.S. manager of an Upper Darby, Penn., company that manufactures and exports bulletproof vests and other law enforcement and military equipment.
· David R. Painter, 56, and Lee M. Wares, 43, the chairman and director of a United Kingdom company that markets armored vehicles.
· Pankesh Patel, 43, the managing director of a United Kingdom company that acts as sales agent for companies in the law enforcement and military products industries
· Ofer Paz, 50, the president and chief executive officer of an Israeli company that acts as sales agent for companies in the law enforcement and military products industries
· Jonathan M. Spiller, 58, the owner and president of a Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., company that markets and sells law enforcement and military equipment.
· Israel Weisler, aka Wayne Weisler, 63, and Michael Sachs, 66, owners and co-chief executive officers of a Stearns, Ky., company that designs, manufactures and sells armor products, including body armor.
· John Benson Wier III, 46, the president of a St. Petersburg, Fla., company that sells tactical and ballistic equipment.
Undercover Investigation Linked To Gun Execs
POSTED: 3:06 pm PST January 19, 2010
UPDATED: 3:36 pm PST January 19, 2010
LAS VEGAS -- An undercover investigation into bribery of foreign officials led to 21 arrests in Las Vegas, the FBI announced Tuesday.
A 22nd person was arrested in Miami. All of the defendants are executives or employees of military and law enforcement suppliers, including companies that make firearms and body armor.
None of the people arrested are from Las Vegas, but all were in town for the 2010 Shooting, Hunting & Outdoor Trade Show, which began today at the Sands Expo & Convention Center.
Authorities said the defendants were part of a scheme to bribe a minister of defense in an unnamed African company in exchange for a portion of a $15 million deal to outfit the country’s presidential guard.
The minister of defense never existed, the FBI said, and instead an undercover agent acted as the “sales agent.”
“Corrupt payments to foreign officials to obtain or retain business erode public confidence in our free market system and threaten to undermine foreign governments,” said U.S. Attorney Channing Phillips.
About 150 FBI agents served 14 search warrants around the country as part of the investigation.
Indictments allege the defendants conspired to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, conspired to engage in money laundering, and engaged in substantive violations of the FCPA.
Those charged include:
· Daniel Alvirez, 32, and Lee Allen Tolleson, 25, the president and director of acquisitions and logistics at a company in Bull Shoals, Ark., that manufactures and sells law enforcement and military equipment.
· Helmie Ashiblie, 44, the vice president and founder of a company in Woodbridge, Va., that supplies tactical bags and other security-related articles for law enforcement agencies and governments worldwide.
· Andrew Bigelow, 40, the managing partner and director of government programs for a Sarasota, Fla., company that sells machine guns, grenade launchers and other small arms and accessories.
· R. Patrick Caldwell, 61, and Stephen Gerard Giordanella, 50, the current and former chief executive officers of a Sunrise, Fla., company that designs and manufactures concealable and tactical body armor.
· Yochanan R. Cohen, aka Yochi Cohen, 47, the chief executive officer of a San Francisco company that manufactures security equipment, including body armor and ballistic plates.
· Haim Geri, 50, the president of a North Miami Beach, Fla., company that serves as a sales agent for companies in the law enforcement and military products industries.
· Amaro Goncalves, 49, the vice president of sales for a Springfield, Mass., company that designs and manufactures firearms, firearm safety/security products, rifles, firearms systems and accessories
· John Gregory Godsey, aka Greg Godsey, 37, and Mark Frederick Morales, 37, the owner and agent of a Decatur, Ga., company that sells ammunition and other law enforcement and military equipment
· Saul Mishkin, 38, the owner and chief executive officer of an Aventura, Fla., company that sells law enforcement and military equipment.
· John M. Mushriqui, 28, and Jeana Mushriqui, 30, the director of international development and general counsel/U.S. manager of an Upper Darby, Penn., company that manufactures and exports bulletproof vests and other law enforcement and military equipment.
· David R. Painter, 56, and Lee M. Wares, 43, the chairman and director of a United Kingdom company that markets armored vehicles.
· Pankesh Patel, 43, the managing director of a United Kingdom company that acts as sales agent for companies in the law enforcement and military products industries
· Ofer Paz, 50, the president and chief executive officer of an Israeli company that acts as sales agent for companies in the law enforcement and military products industries
· Jonathan M. Spiller, 58, the owner and president of a Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., company that markets and sells law enforcement and military equipment.
· Israel Weisler, aka Wayne Weisler, 63, and Michael Sachs, 66, owners and co-chief executive officers of a Stearns, Ky., company that designs, manufactures and sells armor products, including body armor.
· John Benson Wier III, 46, the president of a St. Petersburg, Fla., company that sells tactical and ballistic equipment.