Conn. Man Gets Year In Prison In Oil Bribe Case

NEW YORK (AP) — A Connecticut businessman was sentenced to a year and a day in prison Tuesday for conspiring with others to corrupt the oil privatization process in Azerbaijan.

Frederic Bourke, 53, of Greenwich, Conn., was convicted in July of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and making false statements to the FBI. U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin also fined him $1 million Tuesday.

America's special Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, testified on Bourke's behalf during the federal trial, where he was also acquitted of money laundering conspiracy.

Bourke could have faced up to 10 years in prison, but Scheindlin cited his extraordinary life of charitable works in the field of medicine. She also said she had concerns about the case, which produced little evidence to show bribes were actually paid.

"It's still not entirely clear to me whether Mr. Bourke was a victim or a crook or a little bit of both," the judge said.

Bourke declined to address the court before he was sentenced.