Hobson Found Guilty At Trial
As highlighted in this prior post, in 2021 Frederick Cushmore Jr. (a former executive of Pennsylvania-based coal mining company Corsa Coal Corp.) was criminally charged and pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge to violate the FCPA’s anti-bribery provisions in connection with a bribery scheme in Egypt involving Al Nasr Company for Coke and Chemicals (“Al Nasr” or “NCCC” – an alleged Egyptian state-owned and state-controlled entity and a subsidiary of Metallurgical Industries Holding Company, which was owned and controlled by the Egyptian government).
In 2022, Charles Hunter Hobson (who served in a variety of roles at Corsa Coal from 2013 to 2018) was also criminally charged in connection with the same core conduct. (See here).
Checking In On The Diallo Action
In June 2023, the DOJ announced an enforcement action against Amadou Kane Diallo (pictured – a Senegalese national and California resident who was the CEO of two California-based companies: Virtual Advisors LLC and Liquide Inc).
As stated in the DOJ release:
“Diallo allegedly solicited investments in his companies from at least 11 individuals for purported business opportunities in technology, health care, real estate, home ownership, and service to the African diaspora. Diallo allegedly made various false representations, including that investor funds would be spent to further investors’ interests, or not be spent at all, and instead used as “skin in the game” to attract institutional investors. Diallo is also alleged to have lied to potential investors, claiming that he had raised hundreds of millions of dollars for another investment firm and its real estate investment fund when, in fact, he had never raised any such funds.
Checking In The Hobson Matter
Charles Hunter Hobson (a former executive of Corsa Coal) was criminally charged by the DOJ in 2022 for conspiring with others to make corrupt bribe payments to an individual associated with Al Nasr Company for Coke and Chemicals (an alleged Egyptian state-owned and state-controlled entity) to obtain and retain lucrative contracts, and other business advantages from Al Nasr. (See here for the prior post).
In advance of the scheduled February 3rd trial, this recent post highlighted various DOJ motions in limine.
One motion seeks to “preclude the Defendant at trial from offering evidence or argument related to the Government’s charging and resolution decisions …” and stated:
Checking In On The Hobson Matter
Charles Hunter Hobson (a former executive of Corsa Coal) was criminally charged by the DOJ in 2022 for conspiring with others to make corrupt bribe payments to an individual associated with Al Nasr Company for Coke and Chemicals (an alleged Egyptian state-owned and state-controlled entity) to obtain and retain lucrative contracts, and other business advantages from Al Nasr. (See here for the prior post).
With a February 3rd trial date approaching, the DOJ recently filed a variety of motions in limine.
Rovirosa Seeks Dismissal Of Case
Last month, Ramon Alexandro Rovirosa Martinez was found guilty after a bizarre trial of various charges in connection with an alleged Mexican bribery scheme.
As reported here: “the US corruption trial of Mexican businessman Ramon Alexandro Rovirosa Martinez featured no fact witnesses, which led the judge to block the government from introducing most of its evidence until their closing argument.”
Last month, Rovirosa filed a motion for a judgement of acquittal and with that motion still pending, last week Rovirosa filed a “Motion to Dismiss Case with Prejudice Based on the Court’s Supervisory Powers.”