FCPA / Petrobras 'Car Wash' Indictments

A Connecticut man and a foreign national have been charged with conspiracy, multiple counts of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and money laundering in connection with an alleged scheme to pay bribes to Brazilian officials to win contracts with Brazil’s state-owned and state-controlled energy company, Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. – Petrobras (Petrobras). The indictments are part of a larger investigation by Brazilian authorities known as Operation Car Wash begun in 2014. Glenn Oztemel (64) and Eduardo Inneco (73), employed by Freepoint Commodities, LLC are alleged to have paid consulting fees and commissions to Innecco, knowing that Innecco would pay a portion of those funds to Brazilian officials as bribes.

To conceal the scheme, Oztemel, Innecco, and their co-conspirators allegedly used coded language to refer to the bribes and communicated using personal email accounts, fictitious names, and encrypted messaging applications. Oztemel and Innecco are each charged with conspiracy to violate the FCPA, conspiracy to commit money laundering, three counts of violating the FCPA, and two counts of money laundering. They face up to five years in prison for each of the bribery conspiracy and bribery charges, and up to 20 years in prison for each of the money laundering conspiracy and money laundering charges.