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Lieutenant Colonel Edward Croft
The Director of ONDCP, Lt Col Edward Croft, has stated that neither he nor any member of the command of his organization received any instructions from any official with regard to delaying or not providing documents requested by Brazilian investigative authorities regarding the activities of Odebrecht and a bank in Antigua.
The ONDCP Director’s statement follows an allegation that a high-level government official had been requested by an ‘intermediary’ to refrain from providing to international authorities various banking documents that would reveal illicit payments made by the Division of Structured Operations on behalf of a company called Odebrecht.
Because of the media attention that this matter has received and the information being pedaled, ONDCP, as one of the avenues through which banking documents are processed in response to Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty requests, has decided that it is in the public interest to detail its involvement in relation to requests for information from the Brazilian authorities.
Lt. Col Edward Croft stated categorically, “I have not received any instructions from any private or public official whether domestically or internationally or from anyone advising that I not provide the necessary requested banking documents to the Brazilian authorities”.
He explained that ONDCP has both domestic and international responsibilities, regarding matters of money laundering and drug trafficking, that it takes very seriously. “In the execution of these responsibilities, ONDCP acts independently under the law and in keeping with its international obligations to the Financial Action Task Force and relevant international conventions”.
In July 2015 the ONDCP received from the Central Authority of Antigua and Barbuda, a request for Mutual Legal Assistance to provide help to Brazilian investigators in an investigation named Operation Carwash. This request was acted on immediately.
Because the information requested involved banking documents, an application for a production order was sent to the Court for approval on 22 July 2015. The production order was approved in September, and the order was served on the bank to produce the requested documents. The documents were quite voluminous, resulting in boxes of them being provided over an extended period.
Nonetheless, all documents related to this request were transmitted to the Brazilian authorities once release by the Court had been obtained.
In November 2015 another MLAT was received from the Central Authority for additional information. The same procedure was followed, and the documents should be received from an offshore Bank during this week and will promptly be transmitted to Brazil. It is important to note that ONDCP has to await the production of the documents from the bank before they could be transmitted.
In July 2016 another MLAT request was received requesting the freezing of several accounts and the provision of several bank documents. An application for the production of banking records and the freezing of several accounts were made to the Court. The Court has approved the freezing of the accounts. However, an ancillary matter related to this request is still before the Court and ONDCP has to await the Court’s decision.
ONDCP makes it clear that it has operated in this matter entirely in conformity with its status as an independent investigative body under the law, and fully in keeping with its domestic and international responsibilities. Further, ONDCP has received commendations from the Brazilian authorities for its assistance.
Colonel Croft emphasized that “The ONDCP and other agencies, such as the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, have together successfully processed several dozen requests from many jurisdictions, including the US, the UK, Canada and countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, and have developed considerable expertise in fulfilling the obligations of MLAT requests for which they have been widely praised”.
Good move. Cuz we need all the help. We can get.
The Odebrecht crook’s solicited the assistance of their colleague Luis Franker, who in turn recruited his friends Casroy James and guess who to assist them to stop the glow of information ?
They solicited HAROLD LOVELL, then Leader of the UPP, who was not practicing law at the time.
Harold & Casroy met them at the Biltmore Hotel in Miami, where they discussed their plans to influence the Prime Minister (me) to assist them to prevent the flow of the bribery financial information for a sum of 4,000,000 euros.
Whereas, I could say categorically that I was not involved in any discussion and did not benefit directly or indirectly from covered cent; Harold Lovell received US$4500 monthly from the Miniel Bank/Odebreght crooks.
Having previously deceived the public, Lovell needs to come clean and explain to the public is relationship with these crooks, the reason for the payments he received and the details of their crookish discussions.
NB. To the UPP sycophants Gaston Browne played absolutely no roll in this Odebreght/Miniel Bank saga. All of their hundreds of millions in money laundering took place, under the UPP administration, with Lovell as Finance Minister and Lovell is the one who was on their pay roll.
Wait, didn’t Harold Lovell resign? Yet Gaston you run with the man name. Proof the ABLP does anything for political fame. Let the man enjoy his life outside of the face of the corruption in this small island state. Hope you’re planning to come clean about the Alfa Nero…
Antigua Surf, had it been a UPP official stating this comment your reply would’ve been different. While PM Browne has been trying to restore Antigua in his every step, the UPP stole from us for years! They still wouldn’t even be able to help Antigua the way Gaston and his administration has been helping. Just like the leaders of the mediocre and failing party, you run your mouth about the Alfa Nero without knowing facts. But anyway I won’t say much, just ride off the PM’s back.
Lt. Col. Croft clearly asserts ONDCP’s independence and legal compliance. This is important for public trust, especially given the serious nature of the allegations.
The ONDCP is clearly trying to shield the current administration from any perception of political interference. By stressing that no instructions were received from any official, the Director distances both himself and the government from allegations of corruption or obstruction.
In politically sensitive cases like Odebrecht which involved massive international corruption, opposition parties often seize on even rumors to claim government cover-ups. This statement is an effort to close that door before it opens wider. By mentioning that the ONDCP is waiting on court decisions and that delays were due to the volume of documents, not agency inaction, the statement subtly shifts responsibility for any timing issues to the judiciary or external circumstances, not political or executive interference. However, by making such a strong categorical denial, ONDCP and the government are now fully committed. If any credible evidence emerges later showing that someone did try to interfere, it could severely damage both the agency’s and the government’s credibility.