Joel Esquenazi, Foreign Bribery, Florida 2005

MIAMI, FL – In a shocking turn of events, Joel Esquenazi, the former president of a Miami-Dade County-based telecommunications company, has been charged with Foreign Bribery in Florida. According to court documents, Esquenazi, 50, of Miami, allegedly participated in a scheme to commit Foreign Bribery and money laundering from November 2001 through March 2005.

Esquenazi is charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and to commit wire fraud, seven counts of FCPA violations, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and 12 counts of money laundering. The indictment alleges that the telecommunications company paid more than $800,000 to shell companies to be used for bribes to foreign officials of the Republic of Haiti’s state-owned national telecommunications company, Telecommunications D’Haiti (Haiti Teleco).

The indictment also alleges that the bribes were authorized by Esquenazi and his co-conspirators, including Carlos Rodriguez, the former executive vice president of the telecommunications company. The purpose of the bribes was to obtain various business advantages from the Haitian officials for the telecommunications company, including issuing preferred telecommunications rates, reducing the number of minutes for which payment was owed, and giving a variety of credits toward sums owed.

An indictment is merely an accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Esquenazi faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of the greater of $250,000 or twice the value gained or lost.

Esquenazi’s case is a stark reminder of the ongoing problem of Foreign Bribery and corruption in the telecommunications industry. The case highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in international business dealings.

As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen whether Esquenazi will be convicted and face the maximum penalty. In the meantime, the people of Florida and the global community are left to wonder about the extent of the corruption and the impact it may have had on the Haitian people.

Defendant: Joel Esquenazi

Criminal Charges: One count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and to commit wire fraud, seven counts of FCPA violations, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and 12 counts of money laundering

City and State: Miami, FL

Exact Date: November 2001 – March 2005

Sentence or Outcome: Pending

Dollar Amounts: More than $800,000

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