Federal Jury In Miami Convicts Former Comptroller General Of Ecuador Of Bribery/Money Laundering
On April 24th, 2024, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Carlos Ramon Polit Faggioni—the former Comptroller General of Ecuador—has been convicted by a federal jury in Miami of multiple white collar criminal offenses, including bribery and money laundering. Mr. Polit allegedly solicited and pocketed more than $10 million in bribes between 2010 and 2015. In this blog post, our Orlando money laundering defense lawyer discusses the charges.
Former Educator Official Convicted of Felony White Collar Offense in South Florida
A federal jury in Miami convicted Carlos Ramon Polit Faggion—a former high-ranking government official for Ecuador—of several felony white collar criminal offenses for his involvement in a large-scale international bribery/money laundering scheme.
According to the allegations raised in court, Mr. Polit actively solicited (and received) more than $10 million in bribes from Odebrecht S.A.—a major construction firm based in Brazil between 2010 and 2015. In return, that company received favorable treatment by the Ecuadorian government.
Notably, the U.S. had jurisdiction in this case because the illicit funds from the bribery scheme were laundered through Florida. The American financial system was used. Beyond that, real estate purchased and renovated with the bribe money was largely located in South Florida.
Mr. Polit was convicted of both bribery and money laundering. These are serious federal felony criminal offenses. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison on each individual money laundering count. Sentencing in this case has yet to be scheduled. Though, it will likely occur later this year.
Understanding the Criminal Charge: Money Laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising the origins of illegally obtained money, typically by passing it through a complex sequence of banking transfers or commercial transactions. The goal is to make the money appear legitimate—so it can be integrated into the financial system. Money laundering is a serious federal criminal offense. Under 18 U.S. Code § 1956, a person can be convicted of money laundering if the prosecutors can prove the following elements:
- Illicit Source: The money being laundered must originate from a criminal activity, such as drug trafficking, corruption, fraud, or tax evasion. Funds that are from a legitimate source cannot be laundered.
- Attempt: There must be an attempt to get the funds into the financial system. Usually this will involve some form of placement, layering, and/or integration. Successful integration is not required for a criminal charge.
- Intent: Finally, the perpetrator must knowingly engage in the money laundering process with the intent to conceal the origins or ownership of the illegal funds.
Call Our Florida Money Laundering Defense Attorney Today
At The Baez Law Firm, our Florida fraud crimes defense lawyer has the proven expertise to handle all types of money laundering cases. If you or someone close to you was arrested and charged with money laundering, please contact us today for a confidential initial appointment. We handle money laundering charges in Orlando and throughout Central Florida.
Sources:
justice.gov/opa/pr/former-comptroller-general-ecuador-convicted-10m-international-bribery-and-money-laundering
