Case brief
Media rights and a split verdict
In December 2017 a federal jury in Brooklyn convicted former South American football official Juan Ángel Napout and former Brazilian federation president José Maria Marin of racketeering conspiracy and related offenses. DOJ said the schemes involved bribes for media and marketing rights to football tournaments. Napout was convicted of two wire fraud conspiracy counts; Marin of three wire fraud conspiracy and two money laundering conspiracy counts.
Manuel Burga, former president of Peru’s football federation, stood trial on a single racketeering conspiracy count and was acquitted. The DOJ release notes that although an earlier superseding indictment included other charges, Peru extradited him on that count alone. The Guardian reported the jury’s acquittal and the defense position that prosecutors had not proved he took bribes.
Sentences and appeal
In August 2018 Marin received a four-year prison sentence; Napout received a nine-year sentence. The Second Circuit affirmed their judgments in June 2020 after considering arguments including the reach of the honest-services wire fraud statute. Sentences describe the court’s orders at the time, not either person’s present custodial status.
Read the verdict ↗ · Read the appellate opinion ↗ · Read The Guardian’s acquittal account ↗