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 | Enforcement Action Dataset

Stanford Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Clearinghouse a Collaboration with Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

Enforcement Action Dataset

 
United States of America v. Mahmoud Thiam · Guinean Official's Acceptance of Bribes from a Chinese Conglomerate

Case Information

United States of America v. Mahmoud Thiam

Related FCPA Matter:   Guinean Official's Acceptance of Bribes from a Chinese Conglomerate Information

Case Information

Initiation Date:    12/12/2016  Information

Prosecuting Agency:    U.S. Department of Justice

Type of Action:    DOJ Criminal Proceeding

Docket or Case Number:    17-cr-00047

Court:    S.D. New York

Name of Prosecuting Attorneys:   

  • Elisha J. Kobre , Assistant United States Attorney
  • Jason Linder, Trial Attorney, Fraud Section, Criminal Division
  • Tarek J. Helou, Assistant Chief, Fraud Section, Criminal Division

US Assisting Agencies:   

  • 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  Information

Mahmoud Thiam was a citizen and resident of the United States who served as Minister of Mines for the government of Guinea from early 2009 through late 2010.

In 2009 and 2010, Thiam engaged in a scheme to accept bribes from senior representatives of a Chinese conglomerate and to launder that money into the United States and elsewhere. The Chinese conglomerate made these bribe payments to Thiam in order to secure exclusive and highly valuable investment rights in a wide range of sectors of the Guinean economy, including near total control of Guinea's mining sector. Overall, Thiam received approximately $8.5 million in bribes from the Chinese conglomerate.

On December 12, 2016, a sealed complaint was filed in the Southern District of New York against Thiam alleging two counts of money laundering.

On May 3, 2017, a jury convicted Thiam of one count of transacting in criminally derived property and one count of money laundering. On August 28, 2017, the court sentenced Thiam to 7 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, ordered him to forfeit $8.5 million, and to pay a mandatory special assessment of $200.

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