Financial Crime World

Bolivian Ex-Minister Sentenced to Prison for Money Laundering in U.S. Company Bribery Scheme

Former Bolivian Minister of Government, Arturo Carlos Murillo Prijic, received a prison sentence for his role in a money laundering conspiracy linked to a bribery scheme.

Background

  • Murillo, 58, was sentenced to 70 months in prison on October 20, 2022.
  • The conspiracy involved bribes between a U.S. company and the Bolivian government, leading to a contract for tear gas and other non-lethal equipment.

Bribes and Money Laundering

  • Murillo received over half a million dollars in bribes from a Florida-based company.
  • He and his co-conspirators laundered the illegal proceeds through the U.S. financial system, utilizing Miami bank accounts.

Co-Conspirators

  • The following individuals had pleaded guilty earlier: Sergio Rodrigo Mendez Mendizabal, Luis Berkman, Bryan Berkman, and Philip Lichtenfeld.

Announcement and Investigation

  • The announcement was made by the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, and the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami Field Office in June 2022.
  • HSI’s Miami Field Office (Fort Lauderdale Unit) led the investigation.

Prosecution Team

  • The case was prosecuted by:
    • Trial Attorney Jil Simon and Assistant Chief Gerald M. Moody Jr. of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
    • Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli S. Rubin and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabrielle Charest-Turken for the Southern District of Florida.

Assistant Attorney General Remarks

  • Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. stated that Murillo’s conviction “demonstrates the depth of our commitment to pursuing individuals, no matter where they reside, who violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and attempt to obfuscate their criminal activities through money laundering in the United States.”

Fraud Section and FCPA Enforcement

  • The Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA cases.
  • For more information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.