Philip Urofsky, Trial Attorney, Fraud Section, Criminal Division
Joshua S. Levy, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney
US Assisting Agencies: Unknown
Foreign Enforcement Action/Investigation: Unknown
Foreign Assisting Agencies: Unknown
Origin of the Proceeding:
EPA investigation
Whistleblower:
Unknown
Case Status:
Resolved
Summary
David H. Mead was former President and CEO of Saybolt Inc.; Executive Vice-President and Chief Executive of Saybolt North America Inc.; and CEO of Saybolt Western Hemisphere.
Saybolt Inc.'s primary business was conducting quantitative and qualitative testing of bulk commodities, such as oil, gasoline and other petrochemicals, as well as grains, vegetable oils and other commodities. Saybolt Inc. along with its parent company Saybolt North America are wholly owned by a holding company incorporated in the Netherlands, Saybolt International B.V. ("Saybolt International"). In 1997 Core Laboratories N.V. acquired Saybolt International B.V. for $67 million in cash and the assumption of $5 million in debt.
According to the allegations in the charging documents, from 1994 to 1995, Saybolt Inc., Saybolt North America Inc., Saybolt International, B.V., and Saybolt Western Hemisphere conspired to make illegal payments to officials of the government of the Republic of Panama. $50,000 in illegal payments were made to: obtain contracts; to receive a substantial reduction in Saybolt Panama's tax payments to the government of Panama; and to secure a more permanent facility for Saybolt Panama's operations on highly coveted land near the Panama Canal.
The bribery payments were discovered during an investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency's criminal division over allegations of data falsification.
On April 17, 1998 David H. Mead and Frerik Pluimers (Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saybolt Inc.; and President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saybolt North America Inc.) were indicted in the U.S. Distric Court of New Jersey, charging both individuals with conspiracy, the use of Facility in Foreign Commerce in Aid of Racketeering, aiding and abetting, and violating the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA. On March 1, 1999, David H. Mead was sentenced to 4 months in prision, 4 months home detension, and three years of supervised probation. David H. Mead will also be required to pay a $20,000 fine.
On March 13, 2015, the indictment against Pluimers was dismissed.
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