BROOKLYN, N.Y. (CN) - A federal judge ordered a four-year prison sentence Wednesday for Jose Maria Marin, the former boss of Brazilian soccer who went to trial and lost in the U.S. government's crackdown on FIFA corruption.
Marin, 86, was convicted Dec. 22, 2017, after a rollicking weeks-long, millionaire-studded trial. Found guilty on six of seven counts, including money laundering, racketeering and wire fraud conspiracy, Marin is the first convicted trial defendant to be sentenced in the case.
In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen handed Marin a fine of $1.2 million and ordered him to forfeit more than $3.3 million, money he collected in bribes. Restitution will be determined by Nov. 20, the judge said, after further briefing from alleged victims and the parties. Marin has the right to appeal both the conviction and the sentence, she added.
Speaking in a deep voice in his native Portuguese, Marin made an impassioned, tearful plea for freedom during the nearly three-hour proceeding.
“Throughout my life, soccer has been a great love, a source of pride and fulfillment,” Marin said through an interpreter, wearing glasses and reading from a prepared statement. “Now, sadly, it has become my downfall, a nightmare.”
Judge Chen would cut through these remarks later, however, saying Marin “and his co-conspirators were the very cancer on the sport he claims to love.”
Marin choked up as he spoke about his wife, Neusa, who sat in the first row of the gallery.
“Christ carried the cross,” he said. “I carry two.”
Soon after, the defendant became agitated, slapping the table with one hand, raising his voice and turning to directly address prosecutors Sam Nitze and Kristin Mace. The interpreter shouted to be heard over him. There were several moments of confusion during which defense counsel rushed to Marin’s side, placing their hands on his back, trying to calm him down and likely to quiet him, as he’d apparently gone off-script. In the gallery, Neusa Marin held her head in one hand.
“I can die in prison,” the defendant shouted at Nitze and Mace in Portuguese, his voice shaking. “But don’t take away my wife and my family’s inheritance.”
Chen called for a 10-minute recess. Upon returning, Marin apologized for allowing his emotions to overtake him and said he looked forward to returning to Brazil as soon as possible to spend his remaining days making up for the pain he had caused his family.
Marin went to trial last year alongside former Peruvian soccer head Manuel Burga and former Paraguayan boss Juan Angel Napout, all of whom were accused of taking millions of dollars in bribes in exchange for the lucrative media and marketing rights of soccer matches.
All pleaded not guilty, making them the only indicted FIFA officials who fought the charges against them after they were extradited to Brooklyn. Napout was also convicted in December, while Burga was acquitted of all charges. The convictions marked a victory for U.S. prosecutors who brought a sweeping indictment two years ago against more than 40 people on similar charges.
In a sentencing memorandum for Marin submitted earlier this month, prosecutors demanded 10 years.