Financial Crime World

Former Bolivian Minister Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison for Money Laundering Bribes

A Bolivian ex-Minister of Government, Arturo Carlos Murillo Prijic, received a sentence of 70 months in prison for his involvement in a money laundering bribery scheme. Thesentencing took place on October 20, 2022, at the Southern District Court of Florida.

Details of the Conspiracy

Murillo, who hails from Bolivia, admitted to one count of money laundering conspiracy in relation to bribes he received in exchange for helping a U.S. firm secure a profitable contract from the Bolivian government in 2019.

  • Bribe Payments: Murillo illegally accepted at least $532,000 in bribe payments from a Florida-based corporation.

Facilitating the Contract

The company, in return for the bribes, received a contract worth approximately $5.6 million to provide tear gas and non-lethal equipment to Bolivia’s Ministry of Defense.

Money Laundering Activities

Accompanying Murillo in the money laundering conspiracy were:

  1. Sergio Rodrigo Mendez Mendizabal
  2. Luis Berkman
  3. Bryan Berkman
  4. Philip Lichtenfeld

Together, they laundered the revenue of the bribery scheme through the U.S. financial system, including Miami-based bank accounts. Murillo himself received approximately $130,000 in cash bribes at a family member’s residence inMiami.

Previous Sentencings

Mendez Mendizabal, Berkman, Bryan Berkman, and Lichtenfeld had previously confessed to their roles in the scam and were each handed sentences in June 2022.

Justice Department Officials

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr., represented the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, while U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez handled the proceedings for the Southern District of Florida. Michael E. Buckley, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Miami Field Office, was also involved.

Prosecution and Investigation

The case was investigated by HSI Miami Field Office’s Fort Lauderdale Unit. Trial Attorney Jil Simon and Assistant Chief Gerald M. Moody Jr. from the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli S. Rubin for the Southern District of Florida handled the prosecution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabrielle Charest-Turken managed the asset forfeiture process.

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) Cases

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