US prosecutors: A-Roid paid cousin to be quiet

[KamaAina]

http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/sports-mlb/20141104/MLB-Drug.Investigation-Rodriguez/

The U.S. government says New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez gave his cousin nearly $1 million last year to keep secret Rodriguez's use of performance enhancing drugs.

In court documents filed last week in Miami, federal prosecutors said Rodriguez made four wire payments totaling $900,000 between June 2013 and September 2013 to settle a threatened lawsuit by Yuri Sucart, who had worked as Rodriguez's personal assistant. The total value of that settlement could be nearly $2 million, when factoring in other elements of the deal such as a home, a car and insurance.

Sucart, in a letter from his lawyer, threatened to expose Rodriquez's PED use if he wasn't given $5 million and a home.

''Unfortunately for you, litigation with you over his employment agreement will reveal all of the duties you instructed Yuri to perform, so he can prove in court what he earned, what you owe him for services rendered and what you promised,'' Sucart attorney Jeffrey Sonn wrote in a proposed settlement letter to Rodriguez dated Dec. 18, 2012.

Ruh-roh, Rorge!

[madinmaryland]

1. Sounds like a bribe to me...

"threatened to expose Rodriquez's PED use if he wasn't given $5 million and a home"

[JonLP24]

2. Sounds like blackmail too

If that is indeed the case cousin should be charged too if he isn't already, I haven't been following the case.

[Angleae]

3. However, charged with what?

Accepting a bribe is usually a very narrow charge limited to people with govemental power. A-Rod could be charge with obstruction of justice but this guy?

[JonLP24]

4. Blackmail

if this is true -- "threatened to expose Rodriquez's PED use if he wasn't given $5 million and a home". I'm not familiar with the nuances so I may was to quick with the charge him post.

I don't know what the jurisdiction would be but it is a crime under federal law -- Whoever, under a threat of informing, or as a consideration for not informing, against any violation of any law of the Unites States, demands or receives any money or other valuable thing, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.--http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/uscode/18/I/41/873#sthash.2D5yGIQP.dpu

It does specify law which may complicate things and may not apply. Typically only possession, public intoxication, trafficking, or DUI are crimes while the subject of use isn't specified in relevant laws. Who was he threatening to reveal it to? The public or law enforcement? In the latter then the threats probably about Rodriguez acquiring HGH from Biogenesis.

If there is evidence of the claim which they likely have to use it against Rodriguez, then they have evidence against the person committing blackmail.

This was a federal case

LOUISVILLE — Calling her crime "brazen," a federal judge sentenced Karen Cunagin Sypher Friday to seven years and three months in prison for trying to extort cash, cars and other payments from University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino.

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/bigeast/2011-02-18-karen-sypher-sentencing_N.htm

They use the word "extortion" rather than blackmail but I did a search and the blackmail law I referenced above is under the Extortion chapter but also accepting a "bribe" is also a crime when blackmail was used.

A person who receives, possesses, conceals, or disposes of any money or other property which was obtained from the commission of any offense under this chapter that is punishable by imprisonment for more than 1 year, knowing the same to have been unlawfully obtained, shall be imprisoned not more than 3 years, fined under this title, or both.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/880

This is the chapter -- http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/part-I/chapter-41

So in theory, he should be charged with 2 crimes I'd think.

[Angleae]

5. Cool, let's send both to jail.

This guy for blackmail & A-Fraud for obstruction.