Mary Ann McCarthy, Trial Attorney, Money Laundering & Asset Recovery Section, Criminal Division
Alison Whitney Lehr, Assistant United States Attorney
Nalina Sombuntham, Assistant United States Attorney
US Assisting Agencies: Unknown
Foreign Enforcement Action/Investigation: Unknown
Foreign Assisting Agencies: Unknown
Origin of the Proceeding:
Unknown
Whistleblower:
Unknown
Case Status:
Resolved
Summary
Juan Andres Baquerizo Escobar, an Ecuadorian citizen, owned and controlled Oil Services & Solutions S.A., an Ecuadorian company that provided services in the oil industry.
Empresa Pbblica de Hidrocarburos del Ecuador ("PetroEcuador'') was the state-owned and state-controlled oil company in Ecuador.
According to the documents in this case, between 2012 and 2016, Baquerizo Escobar conspired with others to pay approximately $1,720,000 in bribes to PetroEcuador officials in order to obtain and retain business for companies associated with Baquerizo Escobar. He then conspired with others including at least one of the PetroEcuador officials to launder the bribe money.
On July 11, 2018, the DOJ filed a single count Information in the Southern District of Florida against Baquerizo Escobar alleging conspiracy to commit money laundering. On September 14, 2018, Baquerizo Escobar pled guilty to the charge. On October 1, 2018, the court ordered Baquerizo Escobar to forfeit $1,523,678.24 plus two real properties in Miami that had been purchased with $600,000 of laundered funds for a total forfeiture of approximately $2,123,678, and on January 18, 2019, the court sentenced Baquerizo Escobar to 3 years in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release and further ordered him to pay a mandatory assessment of $100.
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