The United States Department of Justice confirmed this morning that Chaguanas West MP and ex-FIFA vice president Jack Warner is among 14 persons charged for racketeering.
According to a statement by the Department of Justice, the defendants and their co-conspirators—nine of whom were FIFA officials—“corrupted the enterprise by engaging in various criminal activities, including fraud, bribery and money laundering.”

(Courtesy UK Telegraph)
“All told, the soccer officials are charged with conspiring to solicit and receive well over US$150 (TT$945) million in bribes and kickbacks,” stated the Department of Justice, “in exchange for their official support of the sports marketing executives who agreed to make the unlawful payments.
“Most of the schemes alleged in the indictment relate to the solicitation and receipt of bribes and kickbacks by soccer officials from sports marketing executives in connection with the commercialization of the media and marketing rights associated with various soccer matches and tournaments.”
Switzerland law officials swooped down on Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich at 6 am and arrested several FIFA officials, who were preparing for the FIFA presidential election on Friday.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter was not among the men detained.
CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb was believed to have been charged while, according to Trinidad and Tobago Attorney General Gavin Nicholas, the US began the extradition process for Warner arrest in Trinidad.
The Department of Justice revealed that Darryl Warner, the son of defendant Jack Warner and a former FIFA development officer, waived indictment and pleaded guilty on 15 July 2013 to a two-count information charging him with wire fraud and the structuring of financial transactions.

Daryan Warner, the eldest son of Jack Warner, waived indictment and pleaded guilty on 25 October 2013 to a three-count information charging him with wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and the structuring of financial transactions.
Daryan forfeited over US$1.1 (TT$6.9) million around the time of his plea and agreed to pay a second forfeiture money judgment at the time of sentencing.
The following is the full statement from the United States Department of Justice:
The Defendants Include Two Current FIFA Vice Presidents and the Current and Former Presidents of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF); Seven Defendants Arrested Overseas; Guilty Pleas for Four Individual Defendants and Two Corporate Defendants Also Unsealed
A 47-count indictment was unsealed early this morning in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, charging 14 defendants with racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies, among other offenses, in connection with the defendants’ participation in a 24-year scheme to enrich themselves through the corruption of international soccer.

(Copyright AFP 2014/Pius Utomi Ekpei)
The guilty pleas of four individual defendants and two corporate defendants were also unsealed today.
The defendants charged in the indictment include high-ranking officials of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the organization responsible for the regulation and promotion of soccer worldwide, as well as leading officials of other soccer governing bodies that operate under the FIFA umbrella.
Jeffrey Webb and Jack Warner – the current and former presidents of CONCACAF, the continental confederation under FIFA headquartered in the United States – are among the soccer officials charged with racketeering and bribery offenses.
The defendants also include U.S. and South American sports marketing executives who are alleged to have systematically paid and agreed to pay well over US$150 (TT$945) million in bribes and kickbacks to obtain lucrative media and marketing rights to international soccer tournaments.
The charges were announced by Attorney General Loretta E Lynch, Acting US Attorney Kelly T Currie of the Eastern District of New York, Director James B. Comey of the FBI, Assistant Director in Charge Diego W Rodriguez of the FBI’s New York Field Office, Chief Richard Weber of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and Special Agent in Charge Erick Martinez of the IRS-CI’s Los Angeles Field Office.

Warner quit FIFA after being indicted for bribery by the global football in 2011.
Also earlier this morning, Swiss authorities in Zurich arrested seven of the defendants charged in the indictment, the defendants Jeffrey Webb, Eduardo Li, Julio Rocha, Costas Takkas, Eugenio Figueredo, Rafael Esquivel and José Maria Marin, at the request of the United States. Also this morning, a search warrant is being executed at CONCACAF headquarters in Miami, Florida.
The guilty pleas of the four individual and two corporate defendants that were also unsealed today include the guilty pleas of Charles Blazer, the long-serving former general secretary of CONCACAF and former US representative on the FIFA executive committee; José Hawilla, the owner and founder of the Traffic Group, a multinational sports marketing conglomerate headquartered in Brazil; and two of Hawilla’s companies, Traffic Sports International Inc. and Traffic Sports USA Inc., which is based in Florida.
“The indictment alleges corruption that is rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted both abroad and here in the United States,” said Attorney General Lynch. “It spans at least two generations of soccer officials who, as alleged, have abused their positions of trust to acquire millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks. And it has profoundly harmed a multitude of victims, from the youth leagues and developing countries that should benefit from the revenue generated by the commercial rights these organizations hold, to the fans at home and throughout the world whose support for the game makes those rights valuable.
“Today’s action makes clear that this Department of Justice intends to end any such corrupt practices, to root out misconduct, and to bring wrongdoers to justice – and we look forward to continuing to work with other countries in this effort.”

(Courtesy transparencyinsport.org)
Attorney General Lynch extended her grateful appreciation to the authorities of the government of Switzerland, as well as several other international partners, for their outstanding assistance in this investigation.
“Today’s announcement should send a message that enough is enough,” said Acting US Attorney Currie. “After decades of what the indictment alleges to be brazen corruption, organized international soccer needs a new start – a new chance for its governing institutions to provide honest oversight and support of a sport that is beloved across the world, increasingly so here in the United States.
“Let me be clear: this indictment is not the final chapter in our investigation.”
Acting US Attorney Currie extended his thanks to the agents, analysts and other investigative personnel with the FBI New York Eurasian Joint Organized Crime Squad and the IRS-CI Los Angeles Field Office, as well as their colleagues abroad, for their tremendous effort in this case.
“As charged in the indictment, the defendants fostered a culture of corruption and greed that created an uneven playing field for the biggest sport in the world,” said Director Comey. “Undisclosed and illegal payments, kickbacks, and bribes became a way of doing business at FIFA. I want to commend the investigators and prosecutors around the world who have pursued this case so diligently, for so many years.”

(Copyright AFP 2014/Fabrice Coffrini)
“When leaders in an organization resort to cheating the very members that they are supposed to represent, they must be held accountable,” said Chief Weber. “Corruption, tax evasion and money laundering are certainly not the cornerstones of any successful business. Whether you call it soccer or football, the fans, players and sponsors around the world who love this game should not have to worry about officials corrupting their sport.
“This case isn’t about soccer, it is about fairness and following the law. IRS-CI will continue to investigate financial crimes and follow the money wherever it may lead around the world, leveling the playing field for those who obey the law.”
The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The Enterprise
FIFA is composed of 209 member associations, each representing organized soccer in a particular nation or territory, including the United States and four of its overseas territories. FIFA also recognizes six continental confederations that assist it in governing soccer in different regions of the world.
The US Soccer Federation is one of 41 member associations of the confederation known as CONCACAF, which has been headquartered in the United States throughout the period charged in the indictment. The South American confederation, called CONMEBOL, is also a focus of the indictment.

(Courtesy YahooSports)
As alleged in the indictment, FIFA and its six continental confederations, together with affiliated regional federations, national member associations and sports marketing companies, constitute an enterprise of legal entities associated in fact for purposes of the federal racketeering laws. The principal – and entirely legitimate – purpose of the enterprise is to regulate and promote the sport of soccer worldwide.
As alleged in the indictment, one key way the enterprise derives revenue is to commercialize the media and marketing rights associated with soccer events and tournaments. The organizing entity that owns those rights – as FIFA and CONCACAF do with respect to the World Cup and Gold Cup, their respective flagship tournaments – sells them to sports marketing companies, often through multi-year contracts covering multiple editions of the tournaments.
The sports marketing companies, in turn, sell the rights downstream to TV and radio broadcast networks, major corporate sponsors and other sub-licensees who want to broadcast the matches or promote their brands.
The revenue generated from these contracts is substantial: according to FIFA, 70% of its US$5.7 (TT$35.9) billion in total revenues between 2011 and 2014 was attributable to the sale of TV and marketing rights to the 2014 World Cup.

The Racketeering Conspiracy
The indictment alleges that, between 1991 and the present, the defendants and their co-conspirators corrupted the enterprise by engaging in various criminal activities, including fraud, bribery and money laundering.
Two generations of soccer officials abused their positions of trust for personal gain, frequently through an alliance with unscrupulous sports marketing executives who shut out competitors and kept highly lucrative contracts for themselves through the systematic payment of bribes and kickbacks.
All told, the soccer officials are charged with conspiring to solicit and receive well over US$150 (TT$945) million in bribes and kickbacks in exchange for their official support of the sports marketing executives who agreed to make the unlawful payments.
Most of the schemes alleged in the indictment relate to the solicitation and receipt of bribes and kickbacks by soccer officials from sports marketing executives in connection with the commercialization of the media and marketing rights associated with various soccer matches and tournaments, including FIFA World Cup qualifiers in the CONCACAF region, the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the CONCACAF Champions League, the jointly organized CONMEBOL/CONCACAF Copa América Centenario, the CONMEBOL Copa América, the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores and the Copa do Brasil, which is organized by the Brazilian national soccer federation (CBF).

(Copyright AFP 2014)
Other alleged schemes relate to the payment and receipt of bribes and kickbacks in connection with the sponsorship of CBF by a major US sportswear company, the selection of the host country for the 2010 World Cup and the 2011 FIFA presidential election.
The Indicted Defendants
As set forth in the indictment, the defendants and their co-conspirators fall generally into three categories: soccer officials acting in a fiduciary capacity within FIFA and one or more of its constituent organizations; sports media and marketing company executives; and businessmen, bankers and other trusted intermediaries who laundered illicit payments.
Nine of the defendants were FIFA officials by operation of the FIFA statutes, as well as officials of one or more other bodies:
- Jeffrey Webb: Current FIFA vice president and executive committee member, CONCACAF president, Caribbean Football Union (CFU) executive committee member and Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA) president.
- Eduardo Li: Current FIFA executive committee member-elect, CONCACAF executive committee member and Costa Rican soccer federation (FEDEFUT) president.
- Julio Rocha: Current FIFA development officer. Former Central American Football Union (UNCAF) president and Nicaraguan soccer federation (FENIFUT) president.
- Costas Takkas: Current attaché to the CONCACAF president. Former CIFA general secretary.
- Jack Warner: Former FIFA vice president and executive committee member, CONCACAF president, CFU president and Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) special adviser.
- Eugenio Figueredo: Current FIFA vice president and executive committee member. Former CONMEBOL president and Uruguayan soccer federation (AUF) president.
- Rafael Esquivel: Current CONMEBOL executive committee member and Venezuelan soccer federation (FVF) president.
- José Maria Marin: Current member of the FIFA organizing committee for the Olympic football tournaments. Former CBF president.
- Nicolás Leoz: Former FIFA executive committee member and CONMEBOL president.

Warner served as Works Minister and National Security Minister for the People’s Partnership Government before his resignation in 2013.
(Courtesy FIFA.com)
Four of the defendants were sports marketing executives:
- Alejandro Burzaco: Controlling principal of Torneos y Competencias S.A., a sports marketing business based in Argentina, and its affiliates.
- Aaron Davidson: President of Traffic Sports USA Inc. (Traffic USA).
- Hugo and Mariano Jinkis: Controlling principals of Full Play Group S.A., a sports marketing business based in Argentina, and its affiliates.
And one of the defendants was in the broadcasting business but allegedly served as an intermediary to facilitate illicit payments between sports marketing executives and soccer officials:
- José Margulies: Controlling principal of Valente Corp. and Somerton Ltd.
The Convicted Individuals and Corporations
The following individuals and corporations previously pleaded guilty under seal:
On July 15, 2013, the defendant Daryll Warner, son of defendant Jack Warner and a former FIFA development officer, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a two-count information charging him with wire fraud and the structuring of financial transactions.
On Oct. 25, 2013, the defendant Daryan Warner waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a three-count information charging him with wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and the structuring of financial transactions. Daryan Warner forfeited over US$1.1 (TT$6.9) million around the time of his plea and has agreed to pay a second forfeiture money judgment at the time of sentencing.

On Nov. 25, 2013, the defendant Charles Blazer, the former CONCACAF general secretary and a former FIFA executive committee member, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a 10-count information charging him with racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, income tax evasion and failure to file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR).
Blazer forfeited over US$1.9 (TT$11.9) million at the time of his plea and has agreed to pay a second amount to be determined at the time of sentencing.
On Dec. 12, 2014, the defendant José Hawilla, the owner and founder of the Traffic Group, the Brazilian sports marketing conglomerate, waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a four-count information charging him with racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and obstruction of justice. Hawilla also agreed to forfeit over US$151 (TT$951) million, US$25 (TT$157) million of which was paid at the time of his plea.
On May 14, 2015, the defendants Traffic Sports USA Inc. and Traffic Sports International Inc. pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy.
All money forfeited by the defendants is being held in reserve to ensure its availability to satisfy any order of restitution entered at sentencing for the benefit of any individuals or entities that qualify as victims of the defendants’ crimes under federal law.

(Courtesy UK Telegraph)
* * * *
The indictment unsealed today has been assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Raymond J. Dearie of the Eastern District of New York.
The indicted and convicted individual defendants face maximum terms of incarceration of 20 years for the RICO conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering and obstruction of justice charges.
In addition, Eugenio Figueredo faces a maximum term of incarceration of 10 years for a charge of naturalization fraud and could have his US citizenship revoked. He also faces a maximum term of incarceration of five years for each tax charge.
Charles Blazer faces a maximum term of incarceration of 10 years for the FBAR charge and five years for the tax evasion charges; and Daryan and Daryll Warner face maximum terms of incarceration of 10 years for structuring financial transactions to evade currency reporting requirements. Each individual defendant also faces mandatory restitution, forfeiture and a fine. By the terms of their plea agreements, the corporate defendants face fines of US$500,000 (TT$3.2 million) and one year of probation.
The government’s investigation is ongoing.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Evan M. Norris, Amanda Hector, Darren A. LaVerne, Samuel P. Nitze, Keith D. Edelman and Brian D. Morris of the Eastern District of New York, with assistance provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Organized Crime and Gang Section.

The Indicted Defendants:
ALEJANDRO BURZACO
Age: 50
Nationality: Argentina
AARON DAVIDSON
Age: 44
Nationality: USA
RAFAEL ESQUIVEL
Age: 68
Nationality: Venezuela
EUGENIO FIGUEREDO
Age: 83
Nationality: USA, Uruguay
HUGO JINKIS
Age: 70
Nationality: Argentina
MARIANO JINKIS
Age: 40
Nationality: Argentina
NICOLÁS LEOZ
Age: 86
Nationality: Paraguay
EDUARDO LI
Age: 56
Nationality: Costa Rica
JOSÉ MARGULIES, also known as José Lazaro
Age: 75
Nationality: Brazil
JOSÉ MARIA MARIN
Age: 83
Nationality: Brazil
JULIO ROCHA
Age: 64
Nationality: Nicaragua
COSTAS TAKKAS
Age: 58
Nationality: United Kingdom
JACK WARNER
Age: 72
Nationality: Trinidad and Tobago
JEFFREY WEBB
Age: 50
Nationality: Cayman Islands
The Convicted Defendants:
CHARLES BLAZER
Age: 70
Nationality: USA
JOSÉ HAWILLA
Age: 71
Nationality: Brazil
DARYAN WARNER
Age: 46
Nationality: Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada
DARYLL WARNER
Age: 40
Nationality: USA, Trinidad and Tobago
TRAFFIC SPORTS INTERNATIONAL INC.
Registered: British Virgin Islands
TRAFFIC SPORTS USA INC.
Registered: USA
E.D.N.Y. Docket Numbers:
United States v. Daryll Warner, 13 Cr. 402 (WFK)
United States v. Daryan Warner, 13 Cr. 584 (WFK)
United States v. Charles Blazer, 13 Cr. 602 (RJD)
United States v. José Hawilla, 14 Cr. 609 (RJD)
United States v. Traffic Sports International, Inc., 14 Cr. 609 (RJD)
United States v. Traffic Sports USA, Inc., 14 Cr. 609 (RJD)
United States v. Jeffrey Webb et al., 15 Cr. 252 (RJD)
I know why the caged bird sings!
The US gov’t will come for all three of them together.
I wonder if Jack is going to be as fortunate as Ish and Steve? And if he’s extradited what about them?
Birds of a feather flock together, and American law enforcement specialize on seizing one bird and making him give up the entire flock to save himself.
The first bird to sing to it’s captors probably won’t avoid the cage, but he will definitely avoid the pot!
And Jack was just on TV saying this is the first time he’s hearing about it.
His sons already preping for sentencing and jail, but you now hearing of it today
Lies Lies Lies.
Jack talking robber talk: “…the US authorities know where I am. I am in my office. They could come and get me….”
I need writers ASAP!
Lasana!
We have work to do!
And Jack would have been keeping dirt on people both within FIFA and the UNC for just such an occasion.
My word greed is a hell of a thing, imagine at 83 years you are making a jail hmmmm
Over 1000 black men die at the hands of their own police and the US justice system has time for FIFA? They have numerous serious domestic issues but they have time for FIFA? 3 years worth of investigations?
They also had time to investigate the killings in Ferguson, Staten Island, North Charleston and Cleveland. You might want to pay closer attention next time.
The only reason he hasn’t been arrested is because this government is not cooperating on any matter involving extradition to the US….but we know how things going with that. Up next – Emailgate.
Many many years waiting for the same with the gang that governs FIVB (Volleyball Federation), the same style the Mexican Acosta, guilty of taking for him 33 Millons Us, teached to Ary Graca, Cristobal Marte, and Wei, their Vicepresidents, now governing the most corrupted Sports Organization.
The crimes occurred on US soil and US currency was used. They are not investigating FIFA per se.
Since he wasn’t charged in a local court and free while fighting extradition, can he still run for MP? That would be a new low for T & T.
Time longer than twine!
And since he wasn’t dealt with at the same time as the others, expect legal challenges all the way to the Privy Council.
Granted its not a bunch of choir girls but why is the US investigating FIFA and they have to answer to the US justice system for an international crime? Even their media is confused.
On the local New York 1 news this morning it was reported that five officials were already in custody.
One can only imagine that those five are already naming names to save themselves!
I read recently that Blatter has been avoiding traveling to the US.
I always knew and said hear more than several times that when Warner and FIFA’s times come it would be in the US.
Didn’t Kamla deny that he was ever in trouble in the beginning? lmao! She went hard for she side kick until they fell out. Now look? I hope he gets what he deserves because he is not a nice man, but still he has supporters who dont give a rats arse how corrupt he is. Oh well… FIFA don’t play.
Lmao! Oh dear someone is mad. #Nofucksaregiven tho. I will be whatever your angry and bitter little heart wants me to be because you don’t pay my bills my love. STAY MAD THO. KAMLA IS A LIAR and you and her minions will just have take the L. #byebitch
Correction : Pathological liar describes this PM
PP time now..they gonna have to extradite Jack-which they may want to do tonight- in the face of Ish and Steve still here. Let the spin begin!
Nothing straightforward here. Others immediately arrested. Here man giving interviews.
A friend just told me he was live on Power 102 so he has to be free on bail at the most.
Ok
Corruption in football only has consequences if it was done involving the US. FIFA, CONCACAF and all other governments did absolutely nothing.
Lasana, you got witness protection? 🙂
Err he is Kendall. Extradition to the U.S. soon.
He apparently on radio right now so he wasn’t arrested.
The Integrity Committee report was hilarious. Why that resulted in no action is beyond me.
First thing to see on the news
Moby’s “Run On” comes immediately to mind. “You might run on, for a long time, run on, ducking ‘n’ dodging…” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrBGUqNBEgE
Biffy Von-Biffington look ting!!!
Tim Kee name din call too?
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32895048
This is the story of the year,the rumours have been confirmed,the apple cart has been turned over,we must also add the politicians who benefited from his generosity
Excellent job Lasana Liburd but where is Jack? And when will he be headed to the U.S.? Lolololol
Whhheeyyy sarrrr!!! Let’s see if he actually gets extradited…..
the ag has to also sign for ish and others
The real question is when will Sepp be joining them ???
Tks to Lasana for this clarification and update.
Look trouble now! What say you Mr Warner?
Yes now a one way ticket to jail
What goes around comes around!
Is he still in Trinidad? Has the AG already signed his extradition papers?
Oh boy…..
Yas! *fist pump*
I now see this on international news! Jack picture up with others to be charged
WELL LOOK TROUBLE NOW…..