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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. Daniel Sargeant · Sargeant Marine's Involvement in Brazil, Ecuador, and Venezuela between 2010 and 2018

Case Information

United States of America v. Daniel Sargeant

Related FCPA Matter:   Sargeant Marine's Involvement in Brazil, Ecuador, and Venezuela between 2010 and 2018 Information

Case Information

Initiation Date:    12/18/2019  Information

Prosecuting Agency:    U.S. Department of Justice

Type of Action:    DOJ Criminal Proceeding

Docket or Case Number:    19-cr-00319

Court:    E.D. New York

Name of Prosecuting Attorneys:   

  • Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney
  • Robert A. Zink, Chief, Fraud Section, Criminal Division
  • Mark E. Bini, Assistant United States Attorney

US Assisting Agencies:   

  • Federal Bureau of Investigation

Foreign Enforcement Action/Investigation:    Unknown

Foreign Assistance:   

  • Brazilian Law Enforcement Agency (BR)

Origin of the Proceeding:    Unknown

Whistleblower:    Unknown

Case Status:    Ongoing


Summary  Information

Sargeant Marine Inc. was a large asphalt company incorporated and based in Boca Raton, Florida.

Daniel Sargeant, a U.S. citizen, worked primarily in the United States as an executive and part owner of Sargeant Marine and its related companies from approximately 2006 through 2016. Sargeant's responsibilities included seeking, approving, and overseeing contracts with Petroleo Brasileiros S.A. - Petrobras, Brazil's state-owned oil company, and Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. ("PDVSA"), Venezuela's state-owned oil company, for Sargeant Marine.

According to the documents in this case, between approximately 2010 and 2018, Sargeant conspired to pay bribes to foreign officials in Brazil and Venezuela in order to secure contracts and other benefits for Sargeant Marine. In Brazil, Sargeant conspired with Sargeant Marine and others to obtain and retain business with Petrobras. As a result of the bribery scheme, Sargeant Marine secured contracts with a total value in excess of approximately $185 million. In Venezuela, Sargeant conspired with Sargeant Marine and others to pay bribes to various PDVSA officials in order to among other things: (a) purchase asphalt from PDVSA; (b) acquire inside, non-public information from PDVSA to obtain an improper advantage in the purchase and sale of asphalt; and (c) recover certain late fees, called demurrage fees, owed by PDVSA to a Swiss asphalt company related to Sargeant Marine.

On December 18, 2019, the DOJ filed a two count Information in the Eastern District of New York against Sargeant alleging conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA and conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to the docket, Sargeant pled guilty on the same date, but the details of any plea agreement are currently unknown.

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