'At Center of FIFA Scandal, a Divisive Politician in Jack Warner' diff viewer (0/1)

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At Center of FIFA Scandal, a Divisive Politician in Jack Warner	At Center of FIFA Scandal, a Divisive Politician in Jack Warner
2015-06-08 03:15:48 UTC	2015-06-08 08:35:06 UTC (about 5 hours later)
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago — The prime minister of this Caribbean republic walked out of a session of Parliament on Friday, angrily chastising a fellow politician and former ally, Jack Warner, who finds himself and his two sons at the center of soccer’s widespread corruption scandal.	PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago — The prime minister of this Caribbean republic walked out of a session of Parliament on Friday, angrily chastising a fellow politician and former ally, Jack Warner, who finds himself and his two sons at the center of soccer’s widespread corruption scandal.
“Here we are now, a focus of the international world, not for the good and great things but because of the actions of one man,” Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, admonished Mr. Warner in a confrontation that dominated the television news here Friday night and the front pages of Saturday’s newspapers.	“Here we are now, a focus of the international world, not for the good and great things but because of the actions of one man,” Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, admonished Mr. Warner in a confrontation that dominated the television news here Friday night and the front pages of Saturday’s newspapers.
A onetime acting prime minister, as well as a former minister of national security and transportation, Mr. Warner, 72, is a polarizing populist, loved and loathed, a man about whom there appears to be no neutral opinion.	A onetime acting prime minister, as well as a former minister of national security and transportation, Mr. Warner, 72, is a polarizing populist, loved and loathed, a man about whom there appears to be no neutral opinion.
Four years ago, Mr. Warner lost his lofty position as a vice president of FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, in a bribery scandal. Now he stands accused of racketeering by United States authorities, charged with, among other things, taking a $10 million payment to influence voting on South Africa to host the 2010 World Cup. He has denied any wrongdoing.	Four years ago, Mr. Warner lost his lofty position as a vice president of FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, in a bribery scandal. Now he stands accused of racketeering by United States authorities, charged with, among other things, taking a $10 million payment to influence voting on South Africa to host the 2010 World Cup. He has denied any wrongdoing.
His sons, Daryan and Daryll Warner — both in their 40s, residents of the Miami area and said to be holders of advanced degrees — have pleaded guilty to related charges and have cooperated with the authorities.	His sons, Daryan and Daryll Warner — both in their 40s, residents of the Miami area and said to be holders of advanced degrees — have pleaded guilty to related charges and have cooperated with the authorities.
There have been 14 soccer and sports marketing officials indicted and much financial duplicity alleged in what prosecutors are calling a $150 million corruption scandal. But perhaps nothing matches the Shakespearean theater of the Warner family: the drama of accused deceit, fraud and self-enrichment; the comedy intended and unintended; and the possibility that two sons have turned against their father or have agreed to take the fall to protect a beleaguered patriarch.	There have been 14 soccer and sports marketing officials indicted and much financial duplicity alleged in what prosecutors are calling a $150 million corruption scandal. But perhaps nothing matches the Shakespearean theater of the Warner family: the drama of accused deceit, fraud and self-enrichment; the comedy intended and unintended; and the possibility that two sons have turned against their father or have agreed to take the fall to protect a beleaguered patriarch.
“You have to pinch yourself when you go to bed at night,” said Brent Sancho, Trinidad’s new sports minister and a 2006 World Cup participant who has long jousted with the elder Mr. Warner. “You think you’re writing a fiction novel. It’s hard to believe what transpired and for such a long period of time.”	“You have to pinch yourself when you go to bed at night,” said Brent Sancho, Trinidad’s new sports minister and a 2006 World Cup participant who has long jousted with the elder Mr. Warner. “You think you’re writing a fiction novel. It’s hard to believe what transpired and for such a long period of time.”
Jack Warner, as is his style, has been operatically defiant in proclaiming his innocence. He has suggested that he acted only according to FIFA’s standard practices. He has threatened to release an “avalanche” of secrets about FIFA and its embattled president Sepp Blatter, who last week announced his intended resignation.	Jack Warner, as is his style, has been operatically defiant in proclaiming his innocence. He has suggested that he acted only according to FIFA’s standard practices. He has threatened to release an “avalanche” of secrets about FIFA and its embattled president Sepp Blatter, who last week announced his intended resignation.
Mr. ~~Warner,~~ has said, too, without proof so far, that he can somehow link FIFA to Trinidad’s 2010 general election and that he has helped political leaders financially with his personal largess.	Mr. Warner has said, too, without proof so far, that he can somehow link FIFA to Trinidad’s 2010 general election and that he has helped political leaders financially with his personal largess.
“Do not take down this country to whatever place that you may be going to,” Ms. Persad-Bissessar, the prime minister, said Friday, urging Mr. Warner to cooperate with the authorities so that Trinidad and Tobago could rescue its image from what she called “shame and scandal.”	“Do not take down this country to whatever place that you may be going to,” Ms. Persad-Bissessar, the prime minister, said Friday, urging Mr. Warner to cooperate with the authorities so that Trinidad and Tobago could rescue its image from what she called “shame and scandal.”
Undeterred, Mr. Warner, who is an opposition member of Parliament and intends to run for prime minister, said, “I will have the last laugh.”	Undeterred, Mr. Warner, who is an opposition member of Parliament and intends to run for prime minister, said, “I will have the last laugh.”
Neither Daryan nor Daryll Warner could be reached. Benjamin Brafman, the prominent New York lawyer representing Daryan Warner, declined to comment.	Neither Daryan nor Daryll Warner could be reached. Benjamin Brafman, the prominent New York lawyer representing Daryan Warner, declined to comment.
Guilty Pleas	Guilty Pleas
On July 15, 2013, Daryll Warner secretly pleaded guilty to wire fraud and illegal structuring of financial transactions to evade currency reporting transactions. The plea was related in part to mortgage fraud in the purchase in 2005-6 of a $990,000 condominium in Miami on behalf of himself and two family members.	On July 15, 2013, Daryll Warner secretly pleaded guilty to wire fraud and illegal structuring of financial transactions to evade currency reporting transactions. The plea was related in part to mortgage fraud in the purchase in 2005-6 of a $990,000 condominium in Miami on behalf of himself and two family members.
On Oct. 18, 2013, Daryan Warner, then 45, entered federal court in Brooklyn, also to furtively plead guilty in the soccer investigation. As Mr. Warner began to address the court, he was interrupted by Judge William Kuntz of United States District Court, who offered his usual good-natured instruction to speak clearly.	On Oct. 18, 2013, Daryan Warner, then 45, entered federal court in Brooklyn, also to furtively plead guilty in the soccer investigation. As Mr. Warner began to address the court, he was interrupted by Judge William Kuntz of United States District Court, who offered his usual good-natured instruction to speak clearly.
“Take your time,” Judge Kuntz told Mr. Warner, according to an unsealed transcript of the hearing. “Take a drink of water. Slowly and loudly. Channel your inner Lord Vader, not your inner Woody Allen, O.K.? That’s what I say all the time.”	“Take your time,” Judge Kuntz told Mr. Warner, according to an unsealed transcript of the hearing. “Take a drink of water. Slowly and loudly. Channel your inner Lord Vader, not your inner Woody Allen, O.K.? That’s what I say all the time.”
Mr. Warner then pleaded guilty to wire fraud, money laundering and evading currency reporting requirements. The plea was made in connection with the illicit resale of tickets to the 2006 and 2010 World Cups for a substantial profit. Mr. Warner forfeited $1,177,843.95, part of the money he made on the 2006 tickets.	Mr. Warner then pleaded guilty to wire fraud, money laundering and evading currency reporting requirements. The plea was made in connection with the illicit resale of tickets to the 2006 and 2010 World Cups for a substantial profit. Mr. Warner forfeited $1,177,843.95, part of the money he made on the 2006 tickets.
On May 27, Jack ~~Warner,~~ was arrested in the billowing FIFA scandal as his sons’ guilty pleas were made public. Intense speculation stirred here: Had the sons betrayed their father to seek leniency for themselves?	On May 27, Jack Warner was arrested in the billowing FIFA scandal as his sons’ guilty pleas were made public. Intense speculation stirred here: Had the sons betrayed their father to seek leniency for themselves?
“It’s hard to speculate,” said Mr. Sancho, the sports minister. “But it seems they had a lot of talks with police. It seems they turned on him.”	“It’s hard to speculate,” said Mr. Sancho, the sports minister. “But it seems they had a lot of talks with police. It seems they turned on him.”
Others suggest the situation is more complicated. The elder Mr. Warner has said that he spoke with both of his sons on May 27 and knew they had been giving information to the authorities.	Others suggest the situation is more complicated. The elder Mr. Warner has said that he spoke with both of his sons on May 27 and knew they had been giving information to the authorities.
On Saturday morning, Mr. Warner declined to speak with a reporter at his office in the borough of Chaguanas. Indra Maraj, general secretary of the Independent Liberal Party, founded by Mr. Warner, said the family dynamic was a “question for Mr. Warner and his sons.”	On Saturday morning, Mr. Warner declined to speak with a reporter at his office in the borough of Chaguanas. Indra Maraj, general secretary of the Independent Liberal Party, founded by Mr. Warner, said the family dynamic was a “question for Mr. Warner and his sons.”
Then she smiled. “People will be surprised,” she said.	Then she smiled. “People will be surprised,” she said.
The brothers, according to court documents, deposited more than $600,000 in various currencies in the second half of 2011 at banks from Miami to New York to Las Vegas, trying to avoid detection by making a pattern of deposits under the threshold of $10,000, above which banks must alert federal officials.	The brothers, according to court documents, deposited more than $600,000 in various currencies in the second half of 2011 at banks from Miami to New York to Las Vegas, trying to avoid detection by making a pattern of deposits under the threshold of $10,000, above which banks must alert federal officials.
Once, Daryan Warner was asked for his driver’s license after making a deposit of 7,500 euros — then above the reporting limit — at a Chase branch in New York. He asked for a return of 500 euros, reducing his deposit to $9,336.60, according to details of court documents first reported by The Financial Times, while Daryll Warner once inadvertently deposited $10,308.80 worth of euros.	Once, Daryan Warner was asked for his driver’s license after making a deposit of 7,500 euros — then above the reporting limit — at a Chase branch in New York. He asked for a return of 500 euros, reducing his deposit to $9,336.60, according to details of court documents first reported by The Financial Times, while Daryll Warner once inadvertently deposited $10,308.80 worth of euros.
I.R.S. Inquiry	I.R.S. Inquiry
The Internal Revenue Service investigated the deposits, and the Warner sons began cooperating with the authorities, pleading guilty in apparent hopes of reduced sentences.	The Internal Revenue Service investigated the deposits, and the Warner sons began cooperating with the authorities, pleading guilty in apparent hopes of reduced sentences.
Prosecutors have said they will recommend that Daryan Warner receive an S visa, or a green card for informants. In Daryan Warner’s guilty plea, the United States authorities noted that no criminal charges would be brought against him for his acknowledged participation in fraud and money laundering while “aiding and abetting the receipt of a bribe and/or kickback payment made by the South African bid committee” in its attempt to host the 2010 World Cup.	Prosecutors have said they will recommend that Daryan Warner receive an S visa, or a green card for informants. In Daryan Warner’s guilty plea, the United States authorities noted that no criminal charges would be brought against him for his acknowledged participation in fraud and money laundering while “aiding and abetting the receipt of a bribe and/or kickback payment made by the South African bid committee” in its attempt to host the 2010 World Cup.
(Law enforcement officials in Switzerland are investigating allegations of bribery pertaining to the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids, which went to Russia and Qatar, respectively. Domenico Scala, the independent chairman of FIFA’s audit and compliance committee, told a Swiss newspaper that those bids could be revoked if evidence emerges that shows they were tainted by bribes.)	(Law enforcement officials in Switzerland are investigating allegations of bribery pertaining to the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bids, which went to Russia and Qatar, respectively. Domenico Scala, the independent chairman of FIFA’s audit and compliance committee, told a Swiss newspaper that those bids could be revoked if evidence emerges that shows they were tainted by bribes.)
South Africa sought unsuccessfully to host the 2006 World Cup before being named as the organizer of the 2010 World Cup. In the early 2000s, according to the indictment of Jack Warner, an unnamed relative of his flew to Paris, accepted “a briefcase containing bundles of United States currency in $10,000 stacks in a hotel room” from a high-ranking South African bid official, boarded a return flight and carried the briefcase back to Trinidad and Tobago and Mr. Warner.	South Africa sought unsuccessfully to host the 2006 World Cup before being named as the organizer of the 2010 World Cup. In the early 2000s, according to the indictment of Jack Warner, an unnamed relative of his flew to Paris, accepted “a briefcase containing bundles of United States currency in $10,000 stacks in a hotel room” from a high-ranking South African bid official, boarded a return flight and carried the briefcase back to Trinidad and Tobago and Mr. Warner.
Valentino Singh, sports editor of The Trinidad and Tobago Guardian newspaper and a biographer of Jack Warner’s, described him as a man who “has been loved and hated, had highs and lows,” and was a kind of paradox, “always moving from one extreme to the next.”	Valentino Singh, sports editor of The Trinidad and Tobago Guardian newspaper and a biographer of Jack Warner’s, described him as a man who “has been loved and hated, had highs and lows,” and was a kind of paradox, “always moving from one extreme to the next.”
“That is really a microcosm of Trinidad,” Mr. Singh said. “He represents us.”	“That is really a microcosm of Trinidad,” Mr. Singh said. “He represents us.”
As a caring father, Mr. Warner set his sons up in various businesses so that “they would be financially well off,” Mr. Singh said. “They were set up, they are victims in this.”	As a caring father, Mr. Warner set his sons up in various businesses so that “they would be financially well off,” Mr. Singh said. “They were set up, they are victims in this.”
Whatever the true relationship between father and sons, said Shaka Hislop, a former Trinidad goalkeeper and a longtime critic of Jack Warner’s, the federal investigation “desperately needed to happen sooner or later.”	Whatever the true relationship between father and sons, said Shaka Hislop, a former Trinidad goalkeeper and a longtime critic of Jack Warner’s, the federal investigation “desperately needed to happen sooner or later.”
If Daryan and Daryll Warner were hardly known in the broader world of soccer, Jack Warner has made headlines in controversies since the 1980s. Once known by some as Teflon Jack, Mr. Warner began to feel charges of corruption stick in 2011.	If Daryan and Daryll Warner were hardly known in the broader world of soccer, Jack Warner has made headlines in controversies since the 1980s. Once known by some as Teflon Jack, Mr. Warner began to feel charges of corruption stick in 2011.
As president of Concacaf, soccer’s governing body for North America, Central America and the Caribbean, Mr. Warner presided over a region with 35 of the then-208 votes in the 2011 FIFA presidential election. As Mr. Blatter sought a fourth term, Mr. Warner supported Mohamed bin Hammam of Qatar.	As president of Concacaf, soccer’s governing body for North America, Central America and the Caribbean, Mr. Warner presided over a region with 35 of the then-208 votes in the 2011 FIFA presidential election. As Mr. Blatter sought a fourth term, Mr. Warner supported Mohamed bin Hammam of Qatar.
At a meeting at the Hyatt Regency here in May 2011, Mr. Warner was accused of offering $40,000 apiece to Caribbean soccer officials on behalf of Mr. bin Hammam to influence the presidential voting. When one official complained, according to the federal indictment of Mr. Warner, he responded: “There are some people here who think they are more pious than thou. If you’re pious, open a church, friends. Our business is our business.”	At a meeting at the Hyatt Regency here in May 2011, Mr. Warner was accused of offering $40,000 apiece to Caribbean soccer officials on behalf of Mr. bin Hammam to influence the presidential voting. When one official complained, according to the federal indictment of Mr. Warner, he responded: “There are some people here who think they are more pious than thou. If you’re pious, open a church, friends. Our business is our business.”
But Mr. Warner had a falling out over the incident with his top lieutenant in Concacaf, Chuck Blazer of the United States. It was a costly rift. In June 2011, Mr. Warner resigned as a vice president of FIFA and president of Concacaf. Mr. Blazer would secretly plead guilty to federal corruption charges in 2013, admit that he took bribes to influence votes for the 1998 and 2010 World Cups, and cooperate with federal authorities.	But Mr. Warner had a falling out over the incident with his top lieutenant in Concacaf, Chuck Blazer of the United States. It was a costly rift. In June 2011, Mr. Warner resigned as a vice president of FIFA and president of Concacaf. Mr. Blazer would secretly plead guilty to federal corruption charges in 2013, admit that he took bribes to influence votes for the 1998 and 2010 World Cups, and cooperate with federal authorities.
When Mr. Warner resigned his soccer posts in 2011, Ms. Persad-Bissessar, Trinidad and Tobago’s prime minister, stood by him, calling him a “son of the soil.”	When Mr. Warner resigned his soccer posts in 2011, Ms. Persad-Bissessar, Trinidad and Tobago’s prime minister, stood by him, calling him a “son of the soil.”