What is Bribery?
The offer or acceptance of money or gifts in exchange for influence on a government or public official or employee. Forms of bribes may also include awards, contracts, privileges, services, and favors.
Who Does Bribery Punish?
According to the General Federal Bribery Statute, the following acts are punished:
- Any public official influencing the performance of any official act in violation of official duty;
- A person bribing a public official with the intent to influence his/her testimony under oath or affirmation before any court, or any committee;
- A person demanding bribery in return for being influenced in testimony under oath or affirmation as a witness in a trial or proceeding or in return for his/her absence from such appearance;
- Any person offering bribery for the performance of a public duty;
- Any person demanding bribery for the discharge of public duty;
- Any person giving anything of value personally for testimony under oath to be given by such person as a witness upon any trial; and
- Any person demanding anything of value personally for testimony under oath to be given by such person as a witness upon any trial.
What Are Some Examples Of Bribery?
Bribery can occur in many ways. It occurs in business, politics, and even the sporting world. Anyone who offers or accepts money or gifts an exchange of influence on a government or public official or employee. In government, an example of bribery would be if someone offers a government official a sum of money for them to vote a certain way.
To be charged with bribery, only proof of an agreement needs to be found. There does not need to be a written agreement. An example is a tapped phone call between a CEO and the person offering the bribe could be sufficient evidence. Another example of bribery would be a police officer accepting money from a drug lord in order to not turn him in and imprison him.
California Briberies In The News
- In 2016, former state senator of California, Ron Calderon, was sentenced to 3 and a half years in federal prison. He was in a corruption scandal and acknowledged taking bribes.
- In 2016, former NCIS agent, John Beliveau, was sentenced to 12 years in prison. He traded sensitive information in exchange for cash, travel, and prostitutes.
- In 2015, 8 medical professionals were charged with buying and selling patients in a bribery scheme involving $25,000,000.
Hiring A Criminal Defense Attorney To Defend Your Rights
If you have been alleged of bribery it can ruin your career and reputation. If you’re convicted you will face fines and jail time. This is not something you want to try to handle alone. If you are in the San Diego area, Bradley Corbett is an experienced San Diego bribery defense lawyer who has dealt with bribery cases before.