Corruption charges can upend a person’s life, especially if they are a public official. The consequences are heavy fines, prison time, and long-term damage to reputation.
Bribery is the offering, giving, or soliciting of something of value to a public official with the intent to influence their actions in a corrupt way. These can include cash, gifts, and other things. The alleged action may be anything from allocating resources to certain parties to manipulating policy decisions. Corruption is a huge problem around the world, with individuals exploiting their positions to enrich themselves and others. Sometimes, these individuals do not understand their legal boundaries and may think their behavior is normal.
The corruption cases that make the headlines often involve government officials, judges, and large corporations. However, many states also criminalize the bribery of arbitrators, umpires, and referees who decide issues related to sports and racing.
It is also illegal to bribe witnesses or jurors. While it is generally not a crime to bribe the actual witness, some states punish this type of corruption by making it an offense to offer or accept anything of value to induce a witness to give false testimony under oath.
Federal governments take corruption allegations very seriously and devote significant resources to investigating and prosecuting them. The penalties for being convicted of corruption can be harsh, with imprisonment ranging from several years to decades. Fines are also substantial, with individuals and companies facing millions of dollars in penalties and potentially being put out of business.