Miami businessman pleads guilty to foreign bribery scheme

February 20th, 2010 - 5:31 am ICT by BNO News  

MIAMI (BNO NEWS) – A Miami, Florida businessman pleaded guilty on Friday to engaging in monetary transactions involving property derived from a scheme to bribe former Haitian government officials, prosecutors announced.

Jean Fourcand, 62, was the president and director of Fourcand Enterprises Inc. Fourcand engaged in a bribery scheme with Juan Diaz, the president of J.D. Locator Services Inc. Fourcand received funds from Diaz in order to benefit an official Haiti’s national telecommunications company, Haiti Teleco.

Robert Antoine, the former director of Haiti Teleco, was the recipient of the bribes. Fourcand explained that various U.S. telecommunications companies sent money to Diaz who dispersed it by issuing J.D. Locator checks. The checks were made payable to Fourcand Enterprises, they appeared to be for legitimate services when the money was intended for engaging real estate transactions that benefited Antoine.

Fourcand faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or the twice the value of the property involved.

Diaz pleaded guilty in May 2009 to conspiracy to commit violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and money laundering. Antoine was indicted for money laundering in December 2009.

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