Wondery CEO Hernan Lopez Indicted In FIFA Bribery Case

Lopez (Photo: LinkedIn)

WONDERY Founder/CEO HERNAN LOPEZ was one of two former 21ST CENTURY FOX executives charged with bribery-related offenses by the DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE MONDAY (4/7). LOPEZ, the former CEO of FOX INTERNATIONAL CHANNELS, and CARLOS MARTINEZ, former Pres. of FOX LATIN AMERICA, were charged with wire fraud and money laundering in a case involving paying kickbacks to officials of South American soccer organization CONMEBOL in order to get inside information for FOX's bid to get the TV rights to the 2018 and 2022 WORLD CUP soccer tournaments as well as rights to the COPA LIBERTADORES.

The 53-count indictment, part of the long-running federal probe of FIFA corruption, returned under seal by a federal grand jury on MARCH 18th and released MONDAY, also accuses former IMAGINA MEDIA AUDIOVISUAL SL co-CEO GERARD ROMY and FULL PLAY GROUP S.A. of wire fraud and money laundering as well as racketeering. LOPEZ, MARTINEZ, and FULL PLAY are scheduled for an APRIL 9th arraignment before District Judge PAMELA K. CHEN in BROOKLYN. The defendants face a maximum of 20 years in prison, mandatory restitution, and fines for each offense.

“The charges unsealed today reflect this Office’s ongoing commitment to rooting out corruption at the highest levels of international soccer and at the businesses engaged in promoting and broadcasting the sport,” said U.S. Attorney RICHARD P. DONOGHUE. “Companies and individuals alike should understand that, regardless of their wealth or power, they will be brought to justice if they use the U.S. financial system to further corrupt ends.”

FBI Assistant Dir.-in-Charge WILLIAM F, SWEENEY said, “The profiteering and bribery in international soccer have been deep-seated and commonly known practices for decades. These men, along with the general public, have known the FBI NEW YORK and our many law enforcement partners are investigating the illicit handshakes and backroom deals hidden in the infrastructure of soccer events, venues and marketing contracts. The first public charges date back to 2015. This should illustrate to everyone still hoping to score millions corruptly, we're going to find you.”

IRS-CI Special Agent-in-Charge RYAN L. KORNER added, “As charged in the Indictment, over a period of many years, the defendants and their co-conspirators corrupted the governance and business of international soccer with bribes and kickbacks, and engaged in criminal fraudulent schemes that caused significant harm to the sport of soccer. Their schemes included the use of shell companies, sham consulting contracts and other concealment methods to disguise the bribes and kickback payments and make them appear legitimate. IRS-CI is proud to have worked alongside our partners at the FBI to unravel this trail of deception.”

An attorney for LOPEZ, MATTHEW UMHOFER, told BLOOMBERG, “It’s shocking that the government would bring such a thin case. The indictment contains nothing more than single paragraph about Mr. LOPEZ that alleges nothing remotely improper. Mr. LOPEZ can’t wait to defend himself at trial.”

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