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Former Bolivian Minister Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Launder Bribery Scheme
A former government minister from Bolivia has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder bribes he received in exchange for corruptly helping a U.S. company win a $5.6 million contract from the Bolivian government.
Arturo Carlos Murillo Prijic, 58, of Bolivia, received at least $532,000 in bribe payments from a Florida-based company in exchange for helping that company secure an approximately $5.6 million contract to provide tear gas and other non-lethal equipment to the Bolivian Ministry of Defense.
Murillo and his co-conspirators laundered the proceeds of the bribery scheme through the U.S. financial system, including bank accounts in Miami, Florida, where Murillo received approximately $130,000 in cash bribe payments.
Murillo’s co-conspirators – Sergio Rodrigo Mendez Mendizabal (Mendez), Luis Berkman, Bryan Berkman, and Philip Lichtenfeld – previously pleaded guilty on Sept. 28, 2021, to their roles in this scheme. Mendez and Luis Berkman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and Bryan Berkman and Lichtenfeld pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
Mendez was sentenced to 42 months in prison, Luis Berkman was sentenced to 38 months, Bryan Berkman was sentenced to 28 months, and Lichtenfeld was sentenced to 26 months.
Murillo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations’ Fort Lauderdale Field Office.
A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida indicted Murillo on one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The Fraud Section of the Criminal Division is responsible for investigating and prosecuting Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) matters.
A $5.6 million contract was awarded to the U.S. company in exchange for bribes paid by the company to Murillo. The company paid Murillo at least $532,000 in bribes.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Public Corruption|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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