A telecommunications entrepreneur from Colombia was sentenced today to nearly four years in prison in federal court in South Florida, for having paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to officials in Honduras.
Jorge Granados, standing next to his attorney, John Wylie, heard Judge Joan Lenard announce his sentence. Afterward Granados hugged his children and wept with relatives.
No statements were made after learning of his sentence, but during the hearing Granados told the judge: “I made a mistake, I am sorry … My family is destroyed, I am in bankruptcy,” he said in English.
Judge Lenard also ruled that Granados will spend two years of the 46 months in prison under probation. Granados will continue probation until October 25th, when he will begin serving his sentence in prison.
The Colombian-American faced a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. His lawyer said he would appeal the ruling.
Judge Lenard released the statement, “I find that a sentence of 46 months’ imprisonment is appropriate, is reasonable.”
In December 2010, the U.S. government accused Granados of breaking anti-bribery regulations, and money laundering while serving as CEO of the telecommunications company in Miami, Latin Node.
Granados, 55, pleaded guilty in May, and faced a total of 19 charges.
According to the prosecution, Granados and other Latin Node executives paid more than half a million dollars in bribes to officials in Honduras to secure contracts and tariff reductions with the state telecommunications company Hondutel.
Prosecutors alleged that bribes were paid between September 2006 and June 2007, and that beneficiaries included officials close to President Manuel Zelaya, who was ousted in June 2009.
Although their names do not appear in the documents, Attorney Jeffrey Knox said two bribed officials were former Hondutel managers Marcelo Chimirri and Jorge Rosa, who maintained a close relationship with Zelaya.
“The judge had a difficult decision,” said Granados’ attorney, “I respect the decision of the judge.”
