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5d ago

U.S. Appeals Court Reinstates Bribery Convictions of Former Fox Executive and Full Play Group

The Second Circuit concluded that U.S.-based actors and victims with American ties bring foreign soccer bribery within the honest services wire fraud statute, remanding the case for further proceedings.

Hernan Lopez, former executive of 21st Century Fox and Full Play Group, arrives at Federal Court in Brooklyn New York City, U.S., March 2, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo
This courtroom sketch shows Brooklyn Federal Court Judge Pamela K. Chen reading a note from the jury, during deliberations in the trial of two former Fox executives accused of paying bribes to gain broadcasting rights to FIFA soccer matches, including the World Cup, Wednesday March 8, 2023, in New York. (Aggie Whelan Kenny via AP)
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Overview

  • The Second Circuit panel unanimously overturned Judge Pamela K. Chen’s ruling that the honest services statute did not cover foreign commercial bribery.
  • The convictions arise from a multimillion-dollar scheme to bribe officials at CONMEBOL and CONCACAF for broadcast rights to the Copa Libertadores, World Cup qualifiers and related events.
  • A Brooklyn jury initially found former Fox International Channels CEO Hernan Lopez and Full Play Group guilty in March 2023 on wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges.
  • Lopez’s lawyer John Gleeson said the defense will seek Supreme Court review of the honest services fraud question and remains confident of eventual vindication.
  • The case is part of a Department of Justice corruption probe launched in 2015 that has yielded over 30 convictions or guilty pleas in international soccer bribery investigations.