2024-07-16 DOJ SDNY press_release 121 KB 4,660 chars

Statement Of U.S. Attorney Damian Williams On The Convictions Of U.S. Senator Robert Menendez And Two New Jersey Businessmen

Caption
United States v. Robert Menendez, et al.
summary

New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez and businessmen Wael Hana and Fred Daibes were convicted of a public-corruption scheme involving hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for official acts.

paragraph

Senator Robert Menendez, Wael Hana, and Fred Daibes were found guilty of a sweeping public-corruption scheme. The trio accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes, including cash, gold bars, and a Mercedes-Benz, in exchange for official acts benefiting their interests. They were convicted on 18 counts, including conspiracy to commit bribery, honest-services wire fraud, and extortion.

narrative

New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez and businessmen Wael Hana and Fred Daibes were convicted of a public-corruption scheme involving hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for official acts. The trio accepted bribes, including cash, gold bars, and a Mercedes-Benz, in exchange for using Menendez's office to benefit the businessmen, foreign interests, including Egypt and Qatar, and other associates. They were found guilty on 18 counts, including conspiracy to commit bribery, honest-services wire fraud, and extortion. The charges stemmed from Menendez's alleged acceptance of bribes from Hana and Daibes in exchange for official acts benefiting their interests. The conviction marks a significant outcome in the case, with sentencing to follow. The public-corruption scheme involved a complex web of bribes and official acts, highlighting the need for accountability in public office. The case was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, who announced the conviction. The outcome of the case serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the integrity of public office.

Enriched metadata

Scheme
public-corruption (100%)
Court
Southern District of New York
Outcome
convicted
Classified public-corruption(confidence 100%). No EDGAR filing fingerprint (criminal/DOJ-side scheme). detection rule →
Parties
United States of AmericaRobert MenendezWael HanaFred Daibes
Keywords
menendezactions benefitdaibesmenendez hanahanarobert menendezwael hanafred daibeshana daibesconspiracy commitnewactionsbenefitdamian williamssenator robert

Extracted insights

Entities 6
  • scheme_term conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud
  • agency Federal Bureau of Investigation
  • person fred daibes
  • scheme_term honest services wire fraud - actions to benefit wael hana and egypt
  • agency Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation
  • person senator robert menendez
Triples 20
  • U.S. Attorney Damian Williams Announced Convictions U.S. Senator Robert Menendez and Two New Jersey Businessmen
  • U.S. Attorney Damian Williams Said Conviction Senator Robert Menendez of corruption offenses
  • U.S. Attorney Damian Williams Thanked Investigators career prosecutors and law enforcement agents
  • U.S. Attorney Damian Williams Praised Work Federal Bureau of Investigation
  • U.S. Attorney Damian Williams Thanked Assistance Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation
  • U.S. Attorney Damian Williams Thanked Support Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section
  • Office’s Public Corruption Unit Handled Case the case
  • Assistant U.S. Attorneys In Charge Of Prosecution the prosecution
  • Senator Robert Menendez Convicted Of Conspiracy to commit bribery
  • Senator Robert Menendez Convicted Of Conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud
  • Senator Robert Menendez Convicted Of Conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right
  • Senator Robert Menendez Convicted Of Conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice
  • Senator Robert Menendez Convicted Of Bribery – actions to benefit Wael Hana and Egypt
  • Wael Hana and Fred Daibes Convicted Of Bribery – actions to benefit Wael Hana and Egypt
  • Senator Robert Menendez Convicted Of Honest services wire fraud - actions to benefit Wael Hana and Egypt
  • Senator Robert Menendez Convicted Of Extortion under color of official right – actions to benefit Wael Hana and Egypt
  • Senator Robert Menendez Convicted Of Honest services wire fraud - actions to benefit Jose Uribe and Uribe’s Associates
  • Senator Robert Menendez Convicted Of Extortion under color of official right – actions to benefit Jose Uribe and Uribe’s Associates
  • Senator Robert Menendez Convicted Of Bribery – actions to benefit Fred Daibes and Qatar
  • Fred Daibes Convicted Of Bribery – actions to benefit Fred Daibes and Qatar
View original DOJ press releasejustice.gov
Extracted body text (4,660c)
Press Release Statement Of U.S. Attorney Damian Williams On The Convictions Of U.S. Senator Robert Menendez And Two New Jersey Businessmen Tuesday, July 16, 2024 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Moments ago, a jury convicted Senator Robert Menendez of corruption offenses. This case has always been about shocking levels of corruption. Hundreds of thousands of dollars of bribes, including gold, cash, and a Mercedes-Benz. This wasn’t politics as usual; this was politics for profit. Because Senator Menendez has now been found guilty, his years of selling his office to the highest bidder have finally come to an end. Corruption isn’t costless: it erodes public trust, and it undermines the rule of law. That’s why we’re so committed to fighting it, regardless of political party. I want to thank the career prosecutors and law enforcement agents who meticulously investigated and prosecuted this case. Their work brought this egregious corruption to light. They are the best of the best, and I am enormously proud to serve with them.” * * * ROBERT MENENDEZ, 70, of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey; WAEL HANA, 40, of Edgewater, New Jersey, and originally of Egypt; and FRED DAIBES, 66, of Edgewater, New Jersey, were convicted of the charges listed in the chart below. The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by Judge Stein. Sentencing for MENENDEZ, HANA, and DAIBES has been scheduled for October 29, 2024. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Williams also thanked the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation for its invaluable assistance on the investigation and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section for its support of the case. This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eli J. Mark, Paul Monteleoni, Lara Pomerantz, Daniel C. Richenthal, and Catherine Ghosh, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina Clark, are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Connor Hamill, Rachel Wechsler, and Braden Florczyk. Count Defendant(s) Charge Potential Maximum Prison Term 1 MENENDEZ HANA DAIBES Conspiracy to commit bribery Five years 2 MENENDEZ HANA DAIBES Conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud 20 years 3 MENENDEZ Conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right 20 years 4 MENENDEZ DAIBES Conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice 5 years 5 MENENDEZ Bribery – actions to benefit Wael Hana and Egypt 15 years 6 HANA DAIBES Bribery – actions to benefit Wael Hana and Egypt 15 years 7 MENENDEZ HANA DAIBES Honest services wire fraud - actions to benefit Wael Hana and Egypt 20 years 8 MENENDEZ Extortion under color of official right – actions to benefit Wael Hana and Egypt 20 years 9 MENENDEZ HANA Honest services wire fraud - actions to benefit Jose Uribe and Uribe’s Associates 20 years 10 MENENDEZ Extortion under color of official right – actions to benefit Jose Uribe and Uribe’s Associates 20 years 11 MENENDEZ Bribery – actions to benefit Fred Daibes and Qatar 15 years 12 DAIBES Bribery – actions to benefit Fred Daibes and Qatar 15 years 13 MENENDEZ DAIBES Honest services wire fraud – actions to benefit Fred Daibes and Qatar 20 years 14 MENENDEZ Extortion under color of official right – actions to benefit Fred Daibes and Qatar 20 years 15 MENENDEZ HANA Conspiracy for a public official to act as a foreign agent Five years 16 MENENDEZ Public official acting as a foreign agent Two years 17 MENENDEZ Conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice Five years 18 MENENDEZ Obstruction of justice 10 years Contact Nicholas Biase, Lauren Scarff, Shelby Wratchford (212) 637-2600 Updated July 16, 2024 Topic Public Corruption Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 24-246
OCR text (4,660c · html-text · 99% conf)
Press Release Statement Of U.S. Attorney Damian Williams On The Convictions Of U.S. Senator Robert Menendez And Two New Jersey Businessmen Tuesday, July 16, 2024 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Moments ago, a jury convicted Senator Robert Menendez of corruption offenses. This case has always been about shocking levels of corruption. Hundreds of thousands of dollars of bribes, including gold, cash, and a Mercedes-Benz. This wasn’t politics as usual; this was politics for profit. Because Senator Menendez has now been found guilty, his years of selling his office to the highest bidder have finally come to an end. Corruption isn’t costless: it erodes public trust, and it undermines the rule of law. That’s why we’re so committed to fighting it, regardless of political party. I want to thank the career prosecutors and law enforcement agents who meticulously investigated and prosecuted this case. Their work brought this egregious corruption to light. They are the best of the best, and I am enormously proud to serve with them.” * * * ROBERT MENENDEZ, 70, of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey; WAEL HANA, 40, of Edgewater, New Jersey, and originally of Egypt; and FRED DAIBES, 66, of Edgewater, New Jersey, were convicted of the charges listed in the chart below. The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by Judge Stein. Sentencing for MENENDEZ, HANA, and DAIBES has been scheduled for October 29, 2024. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Williams also thanked the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation for its invaluable assistance on the investigation and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section for its support of the case. This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eli J. Mark, Paul Monteleoni, Lara Pomerantz, Daniel C. Richenthal, and Catherine Ghosh, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina Clark, are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Connor Hamill, Rachel Wechsler, and Braden Florczyk. Count Defendant(s) Charge Potential Maximum Prison Term 1 MENENDEZ HANA DAIBES Conspiracy to commit bribery Five years 2 MENENDEZ HANA DAIBES Conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud 20 years 3 MENENDEZ Conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right 20 years 4 MENENDEZ DAIBES Conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice 5 years 5 MENENDEZ Bribery – actions to benefit Wael Hana and Egypt 15 years 6 HANA DAIBES Bribery – actions to benefit Wael Hana and Egypt 15 years 7 MENENDEZ HANA DAIBES Honest services wire fraud - actions to benefit Wael Hana and Egypt 20 years 8 MENENDEZ Extortion under color of official right – actions to benefit Wael Hana and Egypt 20 years 9 MENENDEZ HANA Honest services wire fraud - actions to benefit Jose Uribe and Uribe’s Associates 20 years 10 MENENDEZ Extortion under color of official right – actions to benefit Jose Uribe and Uribe’s Associates 20 years 11 MENENDEZ Bribery – actions to benefit Fred Daibes and Qatar 15 years 12 DAIBES Bribery – actions to benefit Fred Daibes and Qatar 15 years 13 MENENDEZ DAIBES Honest services wire fraud – actions to benefit Fred Daibes and Qatar 20 years 14 MENENDEZ Extortion under color of official right – actions to benefit Fred Daibes and Qatar 20 years 15 MENENDEZ HANA Conspiracy for a public official to act as a foreign agent Five years 16 MENENDEZ Public official acting as a foreign agent Two years 17 MENENDEZ Conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice Five years 18 MENENDEZ Obstruction of justice 10 years Contact Nicholas Biase, Lauren Scarff, Shelby Wratchford (212) 637-2600 Updated July 16, 2024 Topic Public Corruption Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 24-246