When people hear the terms bribery and corruption, they often think of dramatic political scandals involving elected officials. However, these crimes don’t just happen to high-profile government workers – they can affect anyone in a public position and, in fact, almost anyone can find themselves facing these charges without even realizing that what they’re doing has illegal implications. The FBI, the Department of Justice, and state prosecutors vigorously pursue these cases, which are covered by numerous federal laws including a variety of anti-corruption statutes.
Bribery involves offering, giving, soliciting, or receiving something of value in exchange for influence in the performance of a legal duty. Corruption, on the other hand, is a broader term that encompasses a number of different activities such as embezzlement, fraud, cartels, and abuse of official power. A person convicted of Federal corruption charges can face severe prison time and fines.
Regardless of what form it takes, Federal corruption is a crime because it erodes public trust in the government and distorts the functioning of institutions. The federal government’s goal in pursuing these allegations is to ensure that the government operates fairly and that taxpayer funds are not misused.
The crimes of bribery and corruption are prosecuted under a variety of federal statutes, including the Travel Act, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, RICO, Hobbs Act, mail and wire fraud, and honest services fraud. Federal prosecutors typically charge individuals and businesses who commit these crimes with the intent to gain or maintain an unfair advantage over their competitors.