Jeffrey Webb, one of seven high-ranking officials of soccer’s world governing body FIFA who were arrested in Switzerland on corruption charges, pleaded not guilty in a US federal court on Saturday.
Extradited to the US, the former FIFA vice president and president of the CONCACAF regional soccer federation appeared at a hearing in Brooklyn, New York.
A US lawyer for Webb declined to comment.
Webb faces charges of racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering. He was released on a US$10 million bond cosigned by family members.
The four cosigners present in court — his wife, and her parents and grandmother — were advised by the judge of the gravity of their financial undertaking.
The bond was secured by 10 properties, three cars, a case of jewelry and watches belonging to Webb and his wife, as well as financial assets, including his 401k retirement account.
The 50-year-old Cayman Islands national is among nine soccer officials and five marketing executives charged by the US Department of Justice for allegedly exploiting the sport for their own gain through bribes of more than US$150 million over 24 years.
Under the terms of his release, Webb surrendered his three passports and his wife surrendered her passport. He will be under house detention and must remain within 32km of the courthouse. His movements are to be monitored electronically and he is required to seek written permission from the FBI to go anywhere.
Webb was one of seven soccer officials arrested in Zurich, Switzerland, on May 27, two days before FIFA’s annual congress, as authorities unveiled a case that roiled the soccer world.
US authorities say their investigation, paralleling a separate Swiss inquiry, has exposed complex money laundering schemes, millions of dollars in untaxed income and tens of millions in offshore accounts held by FIFA officials.
Webb has been provisionally banned from his posts at FIFA and CONCACAF. No date has been set for his trial.
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