The Latest: FIFA says it will seek restitution in bribe case
NEW YORK (AP) The Latest on the trial of South American soccer officials (all times local):
3:45 p.m.
World soccer's governing body says it is will seek compensation and a share of the cash illegally gained by two officials convicted in the FIFA bribery trial in New York.
Juan Angel Napout, the former head of South American confederation CONMEBOL, and ousted Brazilian soccer federation President Jose Maria Marin were convicted Friday of the top charge of being part of a racketeering conspiracy.
FIFA said in a statement to The Associated Press that ''as the jury has found a number of defendants guilty of the charged crimes, FIFA will now take all necessary steps to seek restitution and recover any losses caused by their misconduct.''
Marin and Napout were among more than 40 people in the world of global soccer who faced criminal charges in the U.S. in connection with what prosecutors said were schemes involving hundreds of millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks linked to soccer tournaments. Many of the other defendants pleaded guilty.
More than $200 million is due to be forfeited by people and marketing agencies implicated in the wider case.
---
2:45 p.m.
Two former South American soccer officials convicted at a U.S. trial stemming from the FIFA bribery scandal will be jailed while they await sentencing.
Juan Angel Napout, of Paraguay, was convicted of wire fraud conspiracy and racketeering conspiracy, but acquitted of two money laundering conspiracy counts.
Jose Maria Marin, of Brazil, was convicted of six conspiracy charges: racketeering, money laundering and wire fraud. But Marin was found not guilty of money laundering conspiracy in one of the schemes. His lawyer said in court he was disappointed by the verdict.
Their lawyers argued they should be allowed to abide by their current bail conditions.
But federal prosecutors said their flight risk was high, and the judge agreed.
Jurors will continue to deliberate over the role of a third defendant, Manuel Burga of Peru, next week.
---
2:30 p.m.
Two former South American soccer officials have been convicted at a U.S. trial stemming from the FIFA bribery scandal, while deliberations will continue next week for a third official.
But the two weren't convicted Friday of all the counts they faced.
Juan Angel Napout, of Paraguay, was convicted of wire fraud conspiracy and racketeering conspiracy, but acquitted of two money laundering conspiracy counts.
Jose Maria Marin, of Brazil, was convicted of six conspiracy charges: racketeering, money laundering and wire fraud. But Marin was found not guilty of money laundering conspiracy in one of the schemes. His lawyer said in court he was disappointed by the verdict.
Jurors will continue to deliberate over the role of a third defendant, Manuel Burga of Peru.
---
1:30 p.m.
Two former South American soccer officials have been convicted of corruption charges at a U.S. trial stemming from the FIFA bribery scandal, while deliberations will continue next week for a third official.
A federal jury deliberated a week before reaching a partial verdict Friday in New York.
Jose Maria Marin, of Brazil, and Juan Angel Napout, of Paraguay, were convicted of racketeering conspiracy. Jurors remain undecided on Manuel Burga, of Peru.
The three had been arrested in 2015.
Prosecutors accused them of agreeing to take millions of dollars in bribes from marketing firms seeking commercial rights to big soccer tournaments.
Jurors heard the testimony of businessmen who pleaded guilty. Defense attorneys argued that the cooperators couldn't be trusted.
11:57 a.m.
New York City jurors say they have reached verdict on all but one of the charges against three former South American soccer officials accused of accepting millions of dollars in bribes.
On Friday, jurors sent a note to the judge saying they had agreed on six of the charges but were deadlocked on one count. The judge is considering whether to accept the partial verdict or send them back for more deliberations.
Manuel Burga, of Peru; Juan Napout, of Paraguay; and Jose Maria Marin, of Brazil, have pleaded not guilty to taking the bribes from marketing firms vying for lucrative commercial rights to major soccer tournaments.
The three are among the more than 40 soccer officials, businessmen and entities charged in a scandal that's shaken FIFA, soccer's governing body.
10:30 p.m.
Jurors have resumed deliberations at the New York City trial of three former South American soccer officials charged with accepting millions of dollars in bribes.
Deliberations entered their sixth day on Friday in the case against Manuel Burga, of Peru; Juan Napout, of Paraguay; and Jose Maria Marin, of Brazil. All three have pleaded not guilty to taking the bribes from marketing firms vying for lucrative commercial rights to major soccer tournaments.
The three are among the more than 40 soccer officials, businessmen and entities charged in a scandal that's shaken FIFA, soccer's governing body.
The defense has claimed that government built its case on untrustworthy cooperators who have pleaded guilty and are angling for lighter sentences.
