US Federal Prosecutors Investigate Tapia and Toviggino for Money Laundering and Fraud at AFA
Florida's Department of Justice is investigating a money laundering and bank fraud scheme involving over 57 million dollars linked to the leadership of the AFA.
US Justice system points to AFA leadership for money laundering and bank fraud
The Federal Prosecutor's Office of the Southern District of Florida and the United States Department of Justice are investigating a money laundering and bank fraud scheme involving contracts worth more than 57 million dollars connected to the Argentine Football Association (AFA). According to reporting by ciudadano.news, the information was disclosed by José Urrutia on the programme Sin Verso and directly implicates figures in the leadership of the entity.
The funds in question are understood to have been channelled through a firm associated with businessman Javier Faroni. The investigation points, among others, to AFA president Claudio "Chiqui" Tapia and treasurer Pablo Toviggino.
Key witness before Miami Grand Jury
Tension in the case escalated in recent days after a key witness was unable to complete his testimony before the Miami Grand Jury. That witness is negotiating broad immunity in exchange for providing documentation which, according to the report, would directly implicate both Tapia and Toviggino.
Added to this is the fact that a former associate of the treasurer is said to have expressed a willingness to provide evidence on a USB drive, also in exchange for judicial protection. US Justice is seeking to establish the systematic diversion of revenues from the Argentine national team to private accounts abroad.
Case stalled in Argentina
Whilst the investigation advances in Miami—with audits of international transfers and pressure on witnesses—the case against the AFA Board of Directors in Argentina remains, according to the same report, virtually halted. Local Justice is said to have tolerated repeated defensive delays and dismissed complaints about financial irregularities on the part of those accused.
ciudadano.news notes that this inaction reflects the absence of political will to deepen the investigation into the financial management of the entity governing Argentine football.
Source: Google News AR — Crime