New Miami FBI Corruption Unit Sets Sights On Latin America

Litigation Attorney Wifredo Ferrer spoke with Law360 on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) announcement to open a new Anti-Corruption Unit in Miami. The anti-corruption unit will increase the FBI's focus on Latin America and put companies that do business in the region on notice that they will be under heightened scrutiny.

Mr. Ferrer, who previously served as the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, stated that he expects that if these subjects can't be prosecuted under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, then they could be charged with money laundering or wire fraud.

“If the government can prove that proceeds of this illicit activity made it into the U.S. and were used to buy property of any type, if they can prove that this is tied to the FCPA violations or corruption or other violations of federal law, they can seize and forfeit those properties,” Mr. Ferrer said.

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