A federal judge threw out the conviction of Hernan Lopez, former head of Fox International Channels, who had been found guilty of bribing FIFA soccer officials in exchange for a broadcasting-rights…
, former head of Fox International Channels, who had been found guilty of bribing FIFA soccer officials in exchange for a broadcasting-rights deal.
“We are obviously pleased with Judge Chen’s thorough and correct decision,” David Sarratt, a lawyer for Lopez, said in aLopez, who after leaving Fox founded podcast network Wondery,in March 2023 by a jury on charges that he participated in a scheme to bribe South American soccer officials in order to secure exclusive broadcasting rights for 21st Century Fox. In addition, sports marketing company Full Play Group was found guilty for its part in the alleged scheme.
In a Sept. 1 ruling, U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen granted Lopez’s motion for acquittal and also overturned the conviction of Full Play. The judge cited in part the unanimous U.S. Supreme Court’s decision this May to reverse the wire fraud conspiracy conviction of former Joseph Percoco, an aide to former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo.
“The Supreme Court’s latest wire fraud decisions — especially Percoco — and the absence of precedent applying honest services wire fraud to foreign commercial bribery, requires this court to find that [the wire-fraud statute] does not criminalize the conduct alleged in this case and that therefore the evidence at trial was insufficient to sustain defendants’ convictions under that statute,” Chen wrote.
Lopez founded L.A.-based Wondery in 2016 with the mission of producing high-quality scripted and unscripted podcast entertainment. After
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Federal judge throws out convictions of former Fox executive and marketing group in FIFA caseA federal judge threw out the convictions of a former Fox executive and a South American sports media and marketing company in the FIFA bribery investigation.
Read more »
Judge Tosses Conviction of Former Fox Executive in FIFA Bribery CaseHernan Lopez had been found guilty of bribing soccer officials to secure broadcasting rights to World Cup-related matches.
Read more »
Judge Throws Out Conviction of Former Fox Exec in FIFA Bribery CaseHernán López and an Argentinian marketing company were convicted for bribing soccer officials to secure broadcasting rights for big tournaments
Read more »
Federal judge defies Congress in ruling against Texas election reformFederal Judge Xavier Rodriguez is defying both Congress and federal law by throwing out an ID requirement of Texas' election law for absentee ballots.
Read more »
US judge to sentence two more Proud Boys for Jan. 6 attack at CapitolA federal judge will sentence two more members of the far-right Proud Boys on Friday who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in a failed bid by then-President Donald Trump's supporters to block Congress from certifying President Joe Biden's election victory.
Read more »