Have you or a loved one been falsely accused of Bribery in Greeley, Colorado? In Greeley, if you have made an offer to benefit a public servant to influence their decision, you can face a Bribery charge. In Colorado recently, a man was convicted of trying to Bribe a US Department of Veterans Affairs official. The businessman was found to have influenced a VA official to only submit bids from veterans using their business, and therefore manipulating the government contract process.
What is the Definition of Bribery under C.R.S. 18-8-302 in Weld County?
In Weld County, the definition of Bribery – C.R.S. 18-8-302 – is:
(a) He offers, confers, or agrees to confer any pecuniary benefit upon a public servant with the intent to influence the public servant’s vote, opinion, judgment, exercise of discretion, or other action in his official capacity; or
(b) While a public servant, he solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept any pecuniary benefit upon an agreement or understanding that his vote, opinion, judgment, exercise of discretion, or other action as a public servant will thereby be influenced.
The man described earlier would be charged under subsection (a) for offering the VA official an undisclosed benefit in return for only his contracts being submitted to the VA. If the US Department of Veterans Affairs official had accepted the bribe, he too could be charged under subsection (b) for agreeing to the arrangement.
Examples of Bribery in Greeley, Colorado?
While Bribery may seem straight forward, there may be instances in which you would not think that it was Bribery, some examples are:
- Soliciting Unlawful Compensation or when a public servant asks for compensation for an act that they should not be compensated for – C.R.S. 18-8-304
- Compensation for Past Official Behavior or when a public official accepts a benefit even after they have been in office – C.R.S. 18-8-303
- Trading in Public Office or when a public official agrees to vote, nominate, or give a position to a certain person in exchange for a benefit – C.R.S. 18-8-305
What is the Difference Between State and Federal Bribery Charges in Weld County?
In Weld County, if you have been charged with Bribery you can be charged at a State or Federal level. In most cases, if the Bribe has been committed by mail, across state lines, if the bribe involves the internet, involves agencies governed federally, or relates to financial institutions, the act will be prosecuted at a Federal Level. In the case above, the businessman would most likely have been federally charged, since it involved a federally governed agency. Other charges of bribery not including those above would be charged at a state level. An example of this would be a person trying to bribe a police officer out of a ticket.
What is the Punishment or Sentence for Bribery in Greeley, Colorado?
At the state level in Greeley for a Bribery charge, the sentence for Bribing a government official is a Class 3 Felony punishable by 4-12 years in the DOC and a fine of $3,000-$750,000. In addition, there is a mandatory parole period of 5 years. Penalties for bribery go beyond jail time and parole. If you are convicted, your ability to find a job, serve on a jury or hold a public office can be affected. Bribery is also a crime against the public good or a “crime of moral turpitude.” These crimes can have immigration consequences and if you are applying for citizenship, you may be denied and deported.
Are you or someone you love facing a Bribery charge? Be smart, exercise your right to remain silent, and contact the best criminal defense attorneys in Greeley from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-616-6009. Together, we can protect your future.
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