DOJ Charges Connecticut Man, Brazilian National in FCPA Scheme
Glenn Oztemel of Westport, Connecticut, and Eduardo Innecco, a dual Brazilian and Italian citizen, were charged in an indictment unsealed in the District of Connecticut on Feb. 17 in a Foreign Corrupt Practices Act scheme, DOJ announced. The duo allegedly violated the FCPA and committed money laundering as part of a scheme to pay bribes to Brazilian officials to obtain contracts from the Brazilian state-owned energy company Petroleo Brasileiro-Petrobras, DOJ said.
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Oztemel worked as a senior oil and gas trader at two unnamed Connecticut-based trading companies, while Inneco worked as an oil and gas broker for the two firms in Brazil. From 2010 to 2018, the two and others allegedly bribed Petrobras officials for helping the two companies get and retain business with the state-owned company by giving the defendants confidential information about Petrobras' business, DOJ said. The bribes were disguised as consulting fees and commissions.
Both men are charged with conspiracy to violate the FCPA, conspiracy to commit money laundering, three counts of violating the FCPA and two counts of money laundering. The bribery conspiracy and bribery charges each carry a maximum five-year prison sentence, while the money laundering charges have a maximum 20-year sentence.