Bribery is typically considered a white-collar crime in which professionals and politicians clawing their way to the top occasionally pay for favors to get ahead. But some high-profile bribery cases include FBI sting operations related to college athletic programs. Also, some defendants entangled with other charges such as sexual assault face bribery charges for trying to keep people quiet. Paying someone money or offering to buy them a gift in exchange for keeping quiet about a crime could result in a bribery charge in Minnesota. People found guilty of bribery face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $20,000.
If you face bribery charges for any reason, contact a St. Paul criminal defense attorney experienced with white-collar crimes and high-profile cases. Avoid the media to protect your interests if you are involved in a sports or sex scandal. Resist the urge to become “famous” as it could mean sacrificing your future, your family’s safety and security as well as your reputation. What constitutes bribery is based on a complex set of rules stated in the Minnesota statutes.
Because the bribery statues in Minnesota have so many nuances and gray area, it takes a sophisticated legal team to work out an intelligent defense. In some of the best scenarios, the courts will drop the case or work out a favorable deal.
Facing bribery charges in the sports arena
According to a report by fox9.com, the FBI is cracking down hard on college athletic directors and coaches who bribe recruiters, basketball players and families. In the recent sports bribery case, the prosecution alleges that AAU coaches, assistants and shoe company executives funneled cash to promising, talented high school players. Basketball coaches from the Twin Cities told reporters they have avoided illegal bribery and unethical recruiters.
One University of Minnesota athletic director said it’s impossible to control every staff member and coach. If you are an athletic director, recruiter or coach facing bribery charges, consider the national and international attitude about bribery allegations. In Brazil, the Brazilian soccer confederation president was recently suspended for allegedly taking bribes. The U.S. Department of Justice is currently involved in uncovering international soccer corruption.
Facing bribery charges in the workplace
People are most familiar with bribery as it relates to the political arena or workplace. Some employees are not even aware of the fact they are breaking the law by receiving favors. In the past, the idea of “you scratch my back, and I scratch your back,” was part of being in the “boy’s club.” If you offer, give or promise to give a reward, benefit or consideration to anyone who is a public officer or employee when the person is not legally entitled to the benefit, you could face bribery charges. The law says there has to be an intent to influence the public officer or employee’s performance of duties or power in their position.
With the specific bribery statutes, there are several more issues and nuances that constitute bribery. For example, a person who is or is about to become a witness can’t legally receive a reward or benefit in exchange for their testimony or for being a no show at the legal proceedings. When a judge finds you guilty of bribery, you don’t just face incarceration and fines. Public officers convicted of bribery are banned from holding public office and have to forfeit their office. In addition to losing a job or political position, people also lose their good reputation.
Facing bribery as part of a sex scandal
According to a piece by cbslocal.com, a man in Minnesota was accused of bribing a sexual assault victim. He allegedly talked to a third party, asking the person to tell the victim he would buy her a house. A detective listened to phone calls the defendant made in jail after his arrest. If you have been charged with a crime and are in jail, realize detectives can and will listen to conversations and use the information gathered as evidence to charge you with other crimes. In this case, detective found text messages and phone calls that appeared to direct a third-party to buy presents for the victim’s children and buy her a trailer home. The dependent was charged with attempted bribery and conspiracy to commit bribery. The felonies could result in 5 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.
Bribery cases in politics
Bribing a judge or asking for campaign contributions in a shady situation is not a prudent move. One recent high-profile political bribery case was dropped. A St. Paul City Council member was accused of bribery allegations but officials said there was not enough evidence of a crime. In the high-profile case, A Minneapolis lobbyist said a text message came from the city councilman’s campaign manager asked for a donation. The sticky situation was that the council member had just met with the Minneapolis lobbyist to talk about food regulations. But investigators determined no one asked for a favor. In such cases, it’s imperative to have a good defense attorney who will help shed light on the facts in a case. Oftentimes, people choose the wrong words or use inappropriate times or situations to bring up a topic.
By hiring a criminal defense attorney, you often preserve your good reputation in the workplace, political arena or sports world. While bribery is often a white-collar crime, it’s sometimes associated with people who commit “street crimes.” When facing serious legal matters, it’s always prudent to keep quiet with friends, associates and family members while an attorney examines the facts of the case and creates a formidable defense strategy.
At DeVore Criminal Defense, we help our clients aggressively fight bribery charges. If you are facing any criminal charge, consult with a St. Paul criminal defense lawyer with a proven track record dealing with white-collar and other crimes. DeVore Criminal Defense also handles wire fraud, insurance fraud, stolen and counterfeit checks, theft, antitrust crimes and price-fixing. For more information on the laws related to bribery in Minnesota, please contact us.
Posted 11th May 2018 by DeVore Criminal Defense