Former Heads of New York-Based Non-Governmental Organization Plead Guilty to Conspiring to Bribe Elected Officials of the Marshall Islands

Two Marshallese nationals pleaded responsible currently to conspiring to spend bribes to elected officials of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) in exchange for passing certain legislation.

According to court paperwork, starting in or about 2016 and continuing until at minimum August 2020, Cary Yan, 50, and Gina Zhou, 34, the heads of a New York-dependent non-governmental business (NGO), conspired with other individuals in relationship with a multi-year bribery plan. Yan and Zhou available and paid out tens of 1000’s of bucks in bribes to elected RMI officials – which includes, between other individuals, users of the RMI legislature – in exchange for supporting laws generating a semi-autonomous region within the RMI named the Rongelap Atoll Special Administrative Area (RASAR) that would advantage the small business interests of Yan, Zhou, and their associates. Yan and Zhou carried out the bribery and revenue laundering scheme working with the New York NGO, including the physical use of its headquarters in Manhattan, to satisfy with and converse with RMI officials.

In November 2020, Thai authorities arrested Yan and Zhou in Thailand at the ask for of the United States pursuant to the U.S.-Thailand extradition treaty, and pursuing court proceedings, the Thai government extradited Yan and Zhou to the United States on Sept. 2.

Yan and Zhou every single pleaded guilty to one rely of conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the Overseas Corrupt Procedures Act (FCPA). They just about every deal with a utmost penalty of five years in prison. A sentencing date has not nonetheless been set. A federal district courtroom decide will establish any sentence after thinking of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory variables.

Assistant Lawyer General Kenneth A. Well mannered, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Legal Division, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York, and Assistant Director-in-Cost Michael J. Driscoll of the FBI New York Field Place of work designed the announcement.

The FBI investigated the scenario. The Royal Thai Governing administration, the Embassy of the United States in Bangkok, and the Justice Department’s Business of Global Affairs presented considerable aid in securing the arrest and extradition of the defendants.

Assistant Main Gerald M. Moody Jr. and Trial Lawyer Anthony Scarpelli of the Legal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hagan Scotten, Lara Pomerantz, and Derek Wikstrom for the Southern District of New York are prosecuting the case.

The Fraud Section is dependable for investigating and prosecuting FCPA matters. Added data about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement endeavours can be discovered at www.justice.gov/prison/fraud/fcpa.

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