Jury convicts two of conspiracy to violate the FCPA in Haitian port development project

On June 20, 2019, a jury in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts found two US citizens guilty of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and conspiracy to violate the Travel Act.  Roger Richard Boncy was the chairman and CEO of a company that promoted projects for the reconstruction of Haiti, and Joseph Baptiste was a member of the company’s board of directors.  According to evidence presented at trial, Boncy and Baptiste solicited funds from undercover federal agents who were posing as potential investors in connection with the company’s proposed $84 million project to develop a port in Haiti.  Boncy and Baptiste told these federal agents that the funds would be used to bribe Haitian government officials in exchange for securing approvals needed to move forward with the project.  Baptiste was also convicted of violating the Travel Act and of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

DOJ press release | Superseding indictment | Jury verdict