American sports marketing executive Aaron Davidson, 45, of the United States, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Brooklyn to racketeering conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy tied to a sprawling international bribery scheme. Davidson admitted to orchestrating and paying millions in bribes to a high-ranking soccer official in exchange for lucrative media and marketing rights to major tournaments, including the CONCACAF Gold Cup and Copa América Centenario.
The guilty plea, entered before United States District Judge Pamela K. Chen, stems from Davidson’s role as president of Traffic Sports USA, Inc. (Traffic USA), a Miami-based sports marketing firm. At the time of his arrest on May 27, 2015, Davidson was the top executive at the company and used his position to funnel illegal payments designed to secure rights for Traffic USA and its partners. As part of the plea agreement, he has agreed to forfeit $507,906.84 in illicit proceeds.
Court documents reveal that Davidson, a U.S. citizen who joined Traffic USA in 2003, escalated from sales to the presidency while deepening his involvement in criminal schemes. He negotiated and authorized bribe payments exceeding $14 million to officials within FIFA, CONCACAF, the Caribbean Football Union, and a FIFA national member association. These bribes were instrumental in winning contracts for events like FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the CONCACAF Champions League.
Davidson’s crimes were part of a broader corruption network that infected the upper echelons of global soccer. The schemes allowed Traffic USA to monopolize rights through backroom deals, undermining fair competition and transparency in international sports. The Department of Justice has labeled the case a centerpiece of its ongoing crackdown on systemic graft in global sports governance.
The investigation is being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, the FBI’s New York Field Office, and IRS Criminal Investigation’s Los Angeles Field Office. Prosecutors are receiving critical support from multiple divisions within the Justice Department, including the Organized Crime and Gang Section, the Fraud Section, and INTERPOL Washington. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Evan M. Norris, Amanda Hector, Paul Tuchmann, Nadia Shihata, Keith D. Edelman, and Brian D. Morris are handling the prosecution.
Davidson faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on each count at sentencing. The case, filed under E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 15 CR 252 (S-1), remains part of a sweeping federal probe into corruption in international soccer. Authorities emphasize that the investigation is still active, with potential further charges pending as more evidence emerges from seized financial and communications records.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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