Micronesian Official Pleads Guilty After Violating FCPA
A Micronesian government official pleaded guilty to money laundering charges that violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the Department of Justice said April 3. Master Halbert, an official in Micronesia’s Department of Transportation, Communications and Infrastructure, received bribes from a Hawaii-based engineering and consulting company in exchange for contracts with the Micronesian government, the department said.
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Between 2006 and 2016, Halbert conspired with Frank James Lyon -- a U.S. citizen and part-owner of the Honolulu-based company -- and a third unnamed “Co-Conspirator 1” to receive cash bribes, according to court records. During that same time period, Halbert helped award Lyon’s company contracts from the Micronesian government valued at about $7.8 million, including for an “airport improvement project” and a “project management contract,” records show. Halbert and Lyon were arrested and charged after U.S. officials obtained emails in which the two discussed details of the bribes.
Halbert will be sentenced in July, the department said. Lyon pleaded guilty to bribery and fraud charges in January and is awaiting sentencing in May, the department said. The name of Lyon’s company is withheld in court records.