United States v. Peter DuBois (N.D. Ok. 2011)
United States v. Jald Jensen (N.D. Ok. 2012)
United States v. Bernd Kowalewski (N.D. Ok. 2012)
United States v. Neal Uhl (N.D. Ok. 2011)
United States v. Peter DuBois (N.D. Ok. 2011)
United States v. Jald Jensen (N.D. Ok. 2012)
United States v. Bernd Kowalewski (N.D. Ok. 2012)
United States v. Neal Uhl (N.D. Ok. 2011)
Date Filed
12/27/2001
Enforcement Agency
DOJ
Countries
Mexico, Panama, Brazil
Foreign Official
Officials and employees of the Mexican Policia Federal Preventiva, Mexican Coordinacion General de Transportes Aereos Presidenciales, Gobierno del Estado de Sinaloa, and the Republica de Panama Autoridad Aeronautica Civil.
Date of Conduct
2005 to 2010
Nature of Business
BizJet International Sales and Support, Inc. is a provider of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul services based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It is a subsidiary of Lufthansa Technik AG, a German provider of aircraft-related services.
Influence to be Obtained
According to court documents, four BizJet executives, Peter Dubois (former vice president), Jald Jensen (former sales manager), Bernd Kowalewski (former CEO), and Neal Uhl (former vice president), engaged in a scheme to bribe various officials from Mexico, Panama, and Brazil from 2004 to March 2010. The DOJ alleged that the four executives arranged for illicit check and wire transfers, often referred to as “commissions,” to be made to a group of foreign officials in exchange for lucrative aircraft services contracts. According to the DOJ’s charges, while it was often the case that the bribes were paid directly to the foreign officials, occasionally, the payments were funneled through a shell company that was owned and operated by Jensen.
Enforcement
On April 5, 2013, the DOJ unsealed four indictments filed in 2011 and 2012 against DuBois, Kowalewski, Jensen, and Uhl. At the time of the announcement, both DuBois and Uhl pleaded guilty to multiple charges and were sentenced to probation plus eight months home detention. The sentences were reduced on account of DuBois’ and Uhl’s cooperation with authorities.
In March 2014, Kowalewski was arrested in Amsterdam and subsequently pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the FCPA and one substantive count of violating the FCPA. On November 18, 2014, Kowalewski was sentenced to time served and ordered to pay a $15,000 criminal fine. The fourth BizJet executive, Jensen, remains a fugitive.
United States v. DuBois, No. 11-cr-183 (N.D. Ok. 2011);
Date Filed
12/27/2011
Filed Under Seal
Yes
Date Case Was Unsealed
04/05/2013
FCPA Statutory Provision
Anti-Bribery
Conspiracy
Other Statutory Provision
None
Disposition
Plea Agreement
Defendant Jurisdictional Basis
Domestic Concern
Defendant's Citizenship
United States
Individual Sanction
Probation plus 8-months Home Detention.
Jald Jensen
Citation
United States v. Jensen, No. 12-cr-06 (N.D. Ok. 2012);
Date Filed
01/05/2012
Filed Under Seal
Yes
Date Case Was Unsealed
04/05/2013
FCPA Statutory Provision
Anti-Bribery
Conspiracy
Other Statutory Provision
Conspiracy (Money Laundering); Money Laundering.
Disposition
Fugitive
Defendant Jurisdictional Basis
Domestic Concern
Defendant's Citizenship
United States
Individual Sanction
Pending
Bernd Kowalewski
Citation
United States v. Kowalewski, No. 12-cr-07 (N.D. Ok. 2012);
Date Filed
01/05/2012
Filed Under Seal
Yes
Date Case Was Unsealed
04/05/2013
FCPA Statutory Provision
Anti-Bribery
Conspiracy
Other Statutory Provision
Conspiracy (Money Laundering); Money Laundering.
Disposition
Plea Agreement
Defendant Jurisdictional Basis
Agent of Domestic Concern
Individual Sanction
Time Served; $15,000 Criminal Fine.
Neal Uhl
Citation
United States. v. Uhl, No. 11-cr-184 (N.D. Ok. 2011).
Date Filed
12/28/2011
Filed Under Seal
Yes
Date Case Was Unsealed
04/05/2013
FCPA Statutory Provision
Conspiracy
Other Statutory Provision
None
Disposition
Plea Agreement
Defendant Jurisdictional Basis
Domestic Concern
Defendant's Citizenship
United States
Individual Sanction
Probation plus 8-months Home Detention
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