By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Maxwell Book
BBC-Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN NY Mag
SDNY COURTHOUSE, April 8 – There's the announcement, and there's the reality.
On April 8 it was announced that MAY SALEHI, a former State Department employee, was sentenced today to 12 months in prison for conspiring to commit honest services fraud. SALEHI was a longtime State Department employee who was involved in evaluating bids for critical overseas government construction projects such as U.S. embassies and consulates. SALEHI gave confidential inside bidding information to a Government contractor, and received $60,000 in kickback payments in return. SALEHI was sentenced by United States District Judge Jed S. Rakoff."
Inner City Press was present in the courtroom for the sentencing, and Judge Rakoff had questions as he always does. He asked how this was any different that defrauding the procurement and bidding of a private company, since it involved the government in a commercial / construction role.
The AUSA replied that diplomatic premises are sensitive. But in Bermuda?
Judge Rakoff also asked by the government was asking for five years. He gave a year, noting that while nothing sends a message like jail time especially in a white collar case, he found this enough.
The case is US v. Salehi, 21-cr-577 (Rakoff)
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