Foreign Corrupt Practices Act: Enforcement Action Dataset

Initiation Date: 03/12/2013

Prosecuting Agency: U.S. Department of Justice

Type of Action: DOJ Criminal Proceeding

Docket or Case Number: 13-cr-00901

Court: S.D. New York

Name of Prosecuting Attorneys:

Preet Bharara, United States Attorney
Jeffrey H. Knox, Chief, Fraud Section, Criminal Division
Harry A. Chernoff, Assistant United States Attorney
Jason H. Cowley, Assistant United States Attorney

US Assisting Agencies:

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Department of Justice - Criminal Division's Office of International Affairs

Foreign Enforcement Action/Investigation: Unknown

Foreign Assistance: Unknown

Origin of the Proceeding: Unknown

Whistleblower: Unknown

Case Status: Resolved

Summary

Maria de los Angeles Gonzalez de Hernandez ("Gonzalez") served as either the Vice President of Finance or the Executive Manager of Finance and Funds Administration of Banco de Desarrollo Economico y Social de Venezuela ("BANDES"). In these capacities, Gonzalez oversaw BANDES's trading abroad.

From at least around early 2009 through around 2012, Gonzalez participated in a bribery scheme in which she and employees and agents of Direct Access Partners LLC ("Direct Access") made bribe payments to Gonzalez in exchange for Gonzalez steering BANDES business to Direct Access and authorizing BANDES to execute bond trades with Direct Access. During this time period, Gonzalez directed substantial business to Direct Access on behalf of BANDES and carried out bond transactions that resulted in Direct Access generating tens of millions of dollars in revenue, of which millions--representing a portion of the monies generated by Direct Access' bond trade activity -- were kicked back to Gonzalez.

On March 12, 2013, the DOJ filed a criminal complaint in the Southern District of New York against Gonzalez, Jose Alejandro Hurtado, and Tomas Alberto Clarke Bethancourt. The cases against the defendants were subsequently separated, and on November 18, 2013, the DOJ filed a five count Information against Gonzalez alleging (1) conspiracy to violate the Travel Act, and conspiracy to commit money laundering and (2-5) direct and aiding and abetting/causing violations of the Travel Act and money laundering. According to a DOJ press release issued on November 18, 2013, Gonzalez also pleaded guilty on the same date as the filing of the Information. Sentencing is currently set for January 15, 2016.

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| Enforcement Action Dataset

Enforcement Action Dataset

Case Information

United States of America v. Maria de los Angeles Gonzalez de Hernandez

Case Information

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