Financial Crime World

Title: Former Bolivian Minister Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Bribes in $5.6 Million Contract Scam

US Department of Justice Announces Guilty Plea

  • Arturo Carlos Murillo Prijic, a former Bolivian government minister, pleaded guilty to his involvement in a bribery and money laundering scheme.
  • The US Department of Justice made the announcement on March 2, 2022.

Details of the Conspiracy

Murillo, 58, conspired with others to:

  1. Receive bribe payments from a U.S. company to facilitate a contract between the Bolivian Ministry of Defense and the company.
  2. Secure a $5.6 million contract for tear gas and non-lethal equipment supply.
  3. Launder the bribery scheme proceeds.

Court Document Findings

  • Murillo received a minimum of $532,000 in bribe payments.
  • He obtained approximately $130,000 in cash payments through bank accounts in Miami, Florida.

Co-conspirators Previously Pleaded Guilty

Four co-conspirators – Mendez, Berkman, Bryan Berkman, and Philip Lichtenfeld - previously pleaded guilty.

  1. September 28, 2021, Mendez and Luis Berkman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. (Sentencing: 42 months and 38 months in prison)
  2. Bryan Berkman and Lichtenfeld admitted their guilt regarding the violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). (Sentencing dates undisclosed)

Consequences for Murillo

Murillo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, facing a maximum penalty of ten years in prison. (Sentencing date undisclosed)

Investigation and Prosecution

  • Department of Justice, Criminal Division: Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr.
  • Southern District of Florida: U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez
  • Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami: Acting Special Agent in Charge Michel E. Buckley
  • HSI Fort Lauderdale Field Office: investigation leader
  • Trial Attorney Jill Simon and Assistant Chief Gerald M. Moody Jr., Fraud Section of the Criminal Division
  • Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli S. Rubin: Southern District of Florida
  • Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabrielle Charest-Turken: managing asset forfeiture proceedings

Fraud Section Details

The Fraud Section of the Department of Justice is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA cases. For more information, visit: www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.