FBI Sting Results in 22 Arrests for Foreign Bribery

[Snaquebite]

Pretty slick on the part of the FBI.

LAS VEGAS -- An FBI undercover operation has resulted in 22 arrests, all but one of those arrests took place in Las Vegas.

The Department of Justice says 22 executives and employees of companies in the military and law enforcement products industry are accused of bribing foreign government officials.

"Corrupt payments to foreign officials to obtain or retain business erode public confidence in our free market system and threaten to undermine foreign governments," said U.S. Attorney Channing Phillips. "These indictments set forth serious allegations and reflect the Department's commitment to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who try to advance their businesses through foreign bribery."

The indictments allege that the defendants engaged in a scheme to pay bribes to the minister of defense for a country in Africa.

This is a list of those arrested:


http://www.lasvegasnow.com/global/story.asp?s=11845948

[rubberneck]

I know one of those guys. If you want to buy an iShot range bag you had better order one soon or you'll be waiting 5-20 years. Seriously, is this the best use of FBI resources? I understand them arresting people for bribing US officials but officials from different countries? What if paying a bribe isn't an illegal act in the country the bribe was made?

As someone said on another message board only in America can one politician bribe another politician with $100,000,000 of taxpayer money and no one cares but heaven help you if you bribe some official in some two bit country and the government will ruin your life.

[Snaquebite]

Partial list of companies involved.

ALS Technologies
Point Blank
Armor Holdings
SRT Supply
i-SHOT
Defense Logistics Intl
Protective Products of America
Smith & Wesson
Armor Shield USA

[rubberneck]

Smith and Wesson is screwed as the employee indicted is a Senior VP in charge of LE and Mil sales. I have a hard time believing that he was a rouge actor that went off the reservation without any knowledge of his superiors. He probably had a degree of flexibility in structuring large deals but I doubt he had enough to swing a 20% kickback, or that he would have kept his bosses out of the loop, especially on a deal with a foreign military. I expect that this DOJ will move heaven and earth in trying to get him to give up his former employer. A big corruption conviction of a major gun manufacturer is the sort of PR victory this administration needs to show their base that they really are doing something.

[Paslode]

In the article I read they wrote the individuals were arrested for agreeing to pay a sales rep a 20% commission.

That tends to be method of pay from manufacturers to sales reps, and sales reps do not get paid a commission unless they produce the business unless of course they are working off a monthly draw.

Now if they were in essence furnishing the Purchasing Agent at National Starch or Proctor & Gamble with a new 52" Big Screen to slide some business their way....well that is a different story.

[Utah Bob]

Originally Posted by rubberneck

I have a hard time believing that he was a rouge actor .

I thought this was a rouge actor.

[rubberneck]

Originally Posted by Utah Bob

I thought this was a rouge actor.

Bob, I promise I won't ask why you have pictures of Cabaret on your hard drive if you promise not to post them any more.