the former president of the Salvadoran Football Federation, Reynaldo Vásquez, Was extradited to EUnited States this Friday for being tried in the framework of the corruption scandal in FIFA, and he pleaded not guilty before a federal judge of New York.
Vásquez was indicted by justiceto American in December 2015 for violating the Law on Organizations Influenced by Extortion and Corruption (RICO), created to combat organized crime, as well as various crimes of bank fraud and money laundering .
However, it was extradited to the United States only to be tried for the first organized crime offense, prosecutor Kristin Mace said at Vásquez’s first hearing before Brooklyn judge Pamela Chen, in charge of the mega-corruption scandal at FIFA.
a la virtual hearing, Chen asked Vásquez whether he pleaded guilty or not. “The defendant pleads not guilty,” Gary Cutler, Vasquez’s attorney, responded.
Cutler said he will soon propose bail conditions so his client can await a free trial.
but the prosecutor Mace asked Judge que the accused is detained at least until then because he faces a “very serious” charge that “carries a sentence of up to 20 years” and because he has ties to a foreign country.
the Judge Chen agreed to the order on the grounds that the defendant “pthere is a risk of absconding, “and set the next hearing for April 7.
U.S. justice says Vásquez received bribes in exchange for television and marketing rights to Salvadoran national team matches, and to facilitate the team’s participation in friendly matches.
Just over a year ago, in October 2019, FIFA suspend Vásquez for life in all football-related activities.
In March of In 2017 the leader was sentenced to eight years in prison in El Salvador for another crime: embezzlement of social security contributions of more than 200 employees, for a sum close to $ 400,000.
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The scandal known as “Fifagate” uncovered by the United States in May 2015 uncovered a plot of millionaire bribes paid by sports marketing companies to leaders of football in the Americas in exchange for rights in television broadcasts and promotion of tournaments, including the Copa America and the Copa Libertadores.
In the context of the case, which caused the fall of the head of the body, Joseph Blatter, eThe US government has accused about 45 people and several sports companies of more than 90 offenses and to pay or accept more than $ 200 million andn bribes.
Of the near 45 accused, five have died. A total of 26 pleaded guilty, And of them at least six have been sentenced.
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three is they pleaded not guilty and went to a historic trial in New York in late 2017: The former head of Brazilian football JI dared Marin and the former president of Paraguayan football and Conmebol Juan Ángel Napout were found guilty and jailed, while former Peruvian football chief Manuel Burga was acquitted.
A dozen are still in their countries, where they were prosecuted by local justice or are at large while fighting extradition.