This 55 year old woman is a criminal. But in Mexico her friends are immune from prosecution. Read the article in Spanish here, and in English here.
``Angela Gomez, 55, is accused of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by serving as an intermediary with the Mexican government's Moreno (high official in Mexican Government) and at least two companies, ABB in Sugar Land and a manufacturing firm in California.
She was brought into a Houston federal court Friday in shackles and handcuffs.''
``Arrested during visit
Even in the orange uniform of a prisoner, Gomez stood out in court, with her stylish blonde-streaked haircut, red nail polish and confident posture.
She was arrested earlier this week in front of her daughter as they were in town for a civil arbitration meeting involving Global Financial.
As for the bribery accusation, she appears to have told American businesses that she was related to Moreno and was part of the connection that could make things happen. ABB declined requests for comment.
The investigation appears to have overlapped, or been triggered by, ABB reporting to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in 2005 that some employees made suspect payments to intermediaries in the Middle East and Latin America.
"These are serious, serious charges," U.S. prosecutor Nicola Mrazek said during the Gomez hearing.
"She and her husband ran international money laundering business that accepted funds for bribes from all over the world."
Gomez's husband has not been charged and is believed to be in Mexico.
Check for Ferrari
Part of the scheme to bribe the Mexican official involved funneling cash through the Houston brokerage firm where Gomez had an account, according to court documents. Moreno also had an American Express card that was paid as part of the bribes.
FBI agent Gigi Joyner testified during the hearing that Gomez's signature was on a $297,000 check to Ferrari Beverly Hills, for a Spider sports car, as well payments totaling $1.8 million to the now-defunct South Shore Yacht Sales, in Chula Vista, Calif.
Defense attorney Michael Zweiback, of Los Angeles, accused the government of going after Gomez to pressure those they couldn't reach.
He said she had what appears to be a minor role that there was no proof she knew what was going on, let alone masterminded bribes.
"We are talking about the spouse of an individual the government wants," he said.
"All the nefarious activity the government alleges here appears to be done by some other individuals," he continued. "It clearly is an attempt to pressure others into believing this is a viable investigation."
Taken from Houston Chronicle.
Some years ago Mexican prosecutors nailed the President's brother: Raúl Salinas de Gortari. Now this man is free, and the Salinas family is wealthy.
What else is new? I bet you; this elegant lady will be out of trouble in no time.
From the Spanish version of the Wikipedia article on Salinas linked above:
``El 14 de junio de 2005 Raúl Salinas salió libre después de diez años en la cárcel al ser absuelto del crimen de su ex cuñado; también se le absolvió de los delitos de lavado de dinero y se le descongelaron sus cuentas en Suiza, acudió al noticiero de Joaquín López Doriga [5] a brindarle su agradecimiento por un reportaje que aportó pruebas de un testigo llamado Fernando Rodríguez al cual le pagaron 500,000 dólares para que declarara en su contra y fuera considerado para obtener su libertad.Actualmente vive en el estado de Puebla en San Buenaventura Tecaltzingo en el cerro de mendocinas [6].''
This part is not translated in the English version, here is my translation:
``On June 14, 2005 Raúl Salinas was freed after ten years in jail because he was absolved of the killing of his ex brother in law; also money laundering charges were dropped and his Swiss account was unblocked, he went to Joaquín López Dóriga TV program to thank him for a report on a witness called Fernando Rodríguez who was paid $500,000 to incriminate him. Mr. Rodríguez was freed from jail as well. Currently Salinas lives in San Buenaventura Tecaltzingo Puebla, in the mendocinas hill.''
Interview with López Dóriga in Spanish, here.
The investigation appears to have overlapped, or been triggered by, ABB reporting to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in 2005 that some employees made suspect payments to intermediaries in the Middle East and Latin America.
"These are serious, serious charges," U.S. prosecutor Nicola Mrazek said during the Gomez hearing.
"She and her husband ran international money laundering business that accepted funds for bribes from all over the world."
Gomez's husband has not been charged and is believed to be in Mexico.
Check for Ferrari
Part of the scheme to bribe the Mexican official involved funneling cash through the Houston brokerage firm where Gomez had an account, according to court documents. Moreno also had an American Express card that was paid as part of the bribes.
FBI agent Gigi Joyner testified during the hearing that Gomez's signature was on a $297,000 check to Ferrari Beverly Hills, for a Spider sports car, as well payments totaling $1.8 million to the now-defunct South Shore Yacht Sales, in Chula Vista, Calif.
Defense attorney Michael Zweiback, of Los Angeles, accused the government of going after Gomez to pressure those they couldn't reach.
He said she had what appears to be a minor role that there was no proof she knew what was going on, let alone masterminded bribes.
"We are talking about the spouse of an individual the government wants," he said.
"All the nefarious activity the government alleges here appears to be done by some other individuals," he continued. "It clearly is an attempt to pressure others into believing this is a viable investigation."
Taken from Houston Chronicle.
Some years ago Mexican prosecutors nailed the President's brother: Raúl Salinas de Gortari. Now this man is free, and the Salinas family is wealthy.
What else is new? I bet you; this elegant lady will be out of trouble in no time.
From the Spanish version of the Wikipedia article on Salinas linked above:
``El 14 de junio de 2005 Raúl Salinas salió libre después de diez años en la cárcel al ser absuelto del crimen de su ex cuñado; también se le absolvió de los delitos de lavado de dinero y se le descongelaron sus cuentas en Suiza, acudió al noticiero de Joaquín López Doriga [5] a brindarle su agradecimiento por un reportaje que aportó pruebas de un testigo llamado Fernando Rodríguez al cual le pagaron 500,000 dólares para que declarara en su contra y fuera considerado para obtener su libertad.Actualmente vive en el estado de Puebla en San Buenaventura Tecaltzingo en el cerro de mendocinas [6].''
This part is not translated in the English version, here is my translation:
``On June 14, 2005 Raúl Salinas was freed after ten years in jail because he was absolved of the killing of his ex brother in law; also money laundering charges were dropped and his Swiss account was unblocked, he went to Joaquín López Dóriga TV program to thank him for a report on a witness called Fernando Rodríguez who was paid $500,000 to incriminate him. Mr. Rodríguez was freed from jail as well. Currently Salinas lives in San Buenaventura Tecaltzingo Puebla, in the mendocinas hill.''
Interview with López Dóriga in Spanish, here.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment