Three Individuals Charged in Money Laundering and Bribery Scheme Involving Ecuadorian State-owned Insurance Companies
Date: July 19, 2022
Contact
- Special Agent Fred Johnson, FBI Miami Field Office
Charges Against Three Men
On July 12, 2022, a federal indictment was unsealed charging three men for their alleged roles in a bribery and money laundering scheme aimed at securing business from Ecuadorian state-owned insurance companies, Seguros Sucre S.A. and Seguros Rocafuerte S.A.
- Esteban Eduardo Merlo Hidalgo, Miami, Florida
- Christian Patricio Pintado Garcia, Costa Rica
- Luis Lenin Maldonado Matute, Costa Rica
Allegations
The defendants are accused of conspiring to pay bribes to officials at the insurance companies in exchange for preferential treatment. The trio reportedly funneled funds through an intermediary firm, which received a portion of the brokerage commission from the insurance firms and used those funds to make bribe payments.
Charges
The defendants face multiple charges, including:
- Conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)
- Substantive violation of the FCPA
- Conspiracy to commit money laundering
- Four counts of engaging in transactions involving criminally derived property
Each defendant faces a maximum total penalty of 60 years in prison if convicted.
Appearances in Court
- Merlo appeared in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on July 18, 2022
- Pintado and Maldonado remain at large
Announcement of Charges
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge Darrell J. Waldon of the IRS-Criminal Investigation’s (IRS-CI) Washington, D.C. office, and Special Agent in Charge John J. Bernardo of the FBI’s Miami Field Office announced the charges.
Investigation
This case is being investigated by IRS-CI and FBI, jointly under the auspices of the Global Illicit Financial Team.
Disclaimer
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. For more information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts, please visit their website.