Financial Crime World

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The Falcone Affair: A Web of Corruption and Suspicious Transactions

Jose Kalundungo Falcone, an Angolan businessman, and his wife Sonia de Falcone have been at the center of a number of controversies involving corruption, suspicious transactions, and diplomatic immunity. Here’s a summary of the main points:

Jose Kalundungo Falcone: A History of Corruption

  • In 2003, Jose Kalundungo Falcone was appointed as Angola’s Ambassador to UNESCO, a move seen as an attempt to give him diplomatic immunity.
  • However, his diplomatic immunity was short-lived. He was charged with corruption-related crimes in France in 2004 and convicted twice, in 2007 and 2009. He is currently serving a six-year prison sentence in France.

Sonia de Falcone: Campaign Contributions and Controversy

  • Sonia de Falcone maintained a residence in Arizona, USA, where she made campaign contributions to various politicians and parties.
  • She contributed $20,000 and $80,000 to the Republican National Committee (RNC) in 2000, as well as $2,000 to the Arizona Republican Party in 2000 and $1,000 to the George W. Bush Presidential Exploratory Committee in 1999.
  • Her contributions were not without controversy. The RNC returned all of Falcone’s donations in January 2001 to avoid any appearance of impropriety.

Sonia de Falcone’s Indictment and Plea Agreement

  • Sonia de Falcone was indicted by federal authorities in Arizona for immigration fraud.
  • She pled guilty in 2007 and agreed to leave the United States as part of her plea agreement.
  • Reportedly, she left the country for China in August 2007.

Bank of America Investigation: Suspicious Transactions

  • Senate investigators detailed suspicious transactions in and out of the United States, primarily through accounts held by the Falcones at Bank of America.
  • The bank closed their accounts in July 2007 after approximately 18 years of doing business with them.

Dr. Aguinaldo Jaime: Central Bank Governor and Suspicious Transactions

  • Dr. Aguinaldo Jaime served as governor of the Angolan Central Bank from May 1999 to December 2002 and was appointed deputy prime minister in 2003.
  • During his tenure, he was involved in a series of suspicious $50 million transactions while he was central bank governor between June and December 2002. These transactions were initiated by foreign banks and returned to the central bank due to concerns over their legitimacy.

These cases highlight a web of corruption and suspicious transactions involving high-ranking officials and businesspeople from Angola, with connections to international politics and finance.