Executive Summary
Laws and Precedent
A federal jury in Miami has convicted Carl Alan Zaglin, the 70-year-old CEO of a Georgia-based company, for his role in a nearly five-year scheme involving international bribery and money laundering. Zaglin orchestrated the payment of hundreds of thousands of dollars to Honduran government officials to secure over $10 million in contracts for his company, Atlanco LLC, which manufactured law enforcement uniforms and accessories. The conviction, handed down on September 15, marks a significant enforcement action against corruption aimed at distorting fair competition abroad.
Scheme Details Unveiled
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Zaglin, owner and CEO of Atlanco LLC, agreed to pay bribes to officials of Comité Técnico del Fideicomiso para la Administración del Fondo de Protección y Seguridad Poblacional (TASA). TASA is a Honduran governmental entity responsible for procuring goods for the Honduran National Police and other security agencies.
Bribery and Concealment Tactics
Between March 2015 and November 2019, Zaglin directed the payment of bribes to Honduran officials, including former TASA Executive Director Francisco Roberto Cosenza Centeno and former TASA Titular Director Juan Ramon Molina. These payments were intended to secure and retain contracts for Atlanco LLC, ultimately worth more than $10 million.
The bribes were funneled through Aldo Nestor Marchena, a third-party intermediary then residing in Boca Raton, Florida. Marchena received $2.5 million through sham invoices authorized by Zaglin, which were then used to benefit the Honduran officials.
To mask the illicit payments, conspirators used coded language such as “commissions” and “fees” to refer to bribes, and “Miami” to refer to Marchena. They also employed sham “Brokerage Agreements,” personal email accounts, and encrypted messaging applications to communicate and conceal their activities.
The Role of Co-Conspirators
The scheme involved laundering the bribe money by moving funds from Atlanco to Marchena’s front company in the United States. From there, funds were transferred to accounts held for the benefit of Honduran officials in the United States, Belize, and other international locations.
Marchena, Cosenza, and Molina all previously pleaded guilty for their respective roles in the extensive bribery and money laundering conspiracy. Their pleas were entered on June 5, 2025, August 13, 2025, and December 11, 2024, respectively, indicating a prolonged legal process.
Official Statements and Legal Ramifications
Prosecutor’s Remarks
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida emphasized the resolve of federal law enforcement. He stated that schemes funneling millions to corrupt foreign officials will be met with the full force of federal law, warning those who seek to buy influence or launder dirty money through South Florida.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division reiterated that bribing government officials undermines the rule of law and distorts competitive markets. He affirmed the Criminal Division’s commitment to rooting out corruption and ensuring an equal playing field for American businesses.
Sentencing and Investigation
Zaglin was convicted of one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), one count of violating the FCPA, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each FCPA count and up to 20 years for the money laundering conspiracy charge.
A federal district court judge will determine Zaglin’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami Field Office, with assistance from the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and authorities in Belize, Colombia, and Spain.
This conviction underscores the U.S. Department of Justice’s ongoing efforts to combat international corruption and maintain the integrity of global business practices. It sends a clear message that individuals and companies engaging in illicit activities to gain unfair advantages will be held accountable.
