Statement Of U.S. Attorney Damian Williams On The Convictions Of U.S. Senator Robert Menendez And Two New Jersey Businessmen

 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Moments after, a jury convicted Senator Robert Menendez of corruption offenses.  This case has always been about shocking levels of corruption.  Hundreds of thousands of dollars of bribes, including gold, cash, and a Mercedes-Benz.  This wasn’t politics as usual; this was politics for profit.  Because Senator Menendez has now been found guilty, his years of selling his office to the highest bidder have finally come to an end.  Corruption isn’t costless: it erodes public trust, and it undermines the rule of law.  That’s why we’re so committed to fighting it, regardless of political party.  I want to thank the career prosecutors and law enforcement agents who meticulously investigated and prosecuted this case.  Their work brought this egregious corruption to light.  They are the best of the best, and I am enormously proud to serve with them.”     

ROBERT MENENDEZ, 70, of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey; WAEL HANA, 40, of Edgewater, New Jersey, and originally of Egypt; and FRED DAIBES, 66, of Edgewater, New Jersey, were convicted of the charges listed in the chart below. 

The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by Judge Stein.  Sentencing for MENENDEZ, HANA, and DAIBES has been scheduled for October 29, 2024.  

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Mr. Williams also thanked the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation for its invaluable assistance on the investigation and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section for its support of the case.

Count	Defendant(s)	Charge	Potential Maximum Prison Term
1	MENENDEZ HANA DAIBES	Conspiracy to commit bribery	Five years
2	MENENDEZ HANA DAIBES	Conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud	20 years
3	MENENDEZ	Conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right	20 years
4	MENENDEZ DAIBES	Conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice	5 years
5	MENENDEZ	Bribery – actions to benefit Wael Hana and Egypt	15 years
6	HANA DAIBES	Bribery – actions to benefit Wael Hana and Egypt	15 years
7	MENENDEZ HANA DAIBES	Honest services wire fraud - actions to benefit Wael Hana and Egypt	20 years
8	MENENDEZ	Extortion under color of official right – actions to benefit Wael Hana and Egypt	20 years
9	MENENDEZ HANA	Honest services wire fraud - actions to benefit Jose Uribe and Uribe’s Associates	20 years
10	MENENDEZ	Extortion under color of official right – actions to benefit Jose Uribe and Uribe’s Associates	20 years
11	MENENDEZ	Bribery – actions to benefit Fred Daibes and Qatar	15 years
12	DAIBES	Bribery – actions to benefit Fred Daibes and Qatar	15 years
13	MENENDEZ DAIBES	Honest services wire fraud – actions to benefit Fred Daibes and Qatar	20 years
14	MENENDEZ	Extortion under color of official right – actions to benefit Fred Daibes and Qatar	20 years
15	MENENDEZ HANA	Conspiracy for a public official to act as a foreign agent	Five years
16	MENENDEZ	Public official acting as a foreign agent	Two years
17	MENENDEZ	Conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice	Five years
18	MENENDEZ	Obstruction of justice	10 years