That was a joke people took out of context. But he was serious about bribing the guy.

Two oil traders with ties to former international fugitive Marc Rich have been indicted in a multimillion-dollar kickback scheme that includes allegations of wire fraud and money laundering. Clyde Meltzer, of Houston, and Bernard Langley of the United Kingdom appeared in Houston federal court Wednesday to plead not guilty and seek release on bail. They have been in federal detention since Dec. 9.

[...]

During a Nov. 1 lunch meeting at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House in the Galleria, Meltzer allegedly discussed his frustration with trying to get a ship he owned and its crew released by Venezuelan authorities. He described having to pay nearly a million dollars over the previous six months to lawyers and to bribe prison guards to keep them from torturing the crew, according to testimony. He was also negotiating with a Venezuelan judge to make the case “go away.” Meltzer allegedly joked “it would probably be cheaper to kill the judge than pay the fee,” according to court testimony about the conversation, and said he could have the job done for as little as $150,000.

Two Oil Traders Held In Alleged Kickbacks [Chronicle]

Comments (14)

  1. Posted by Guest | December 16, 2010 at 10:08 PM

    was that wrong?

  2. Posted by Guest | December 16, 2010 at 10:08 PM

    was that wrong?

  3. Posted by Guest | December 16, 2010 at 10:08 PM

    was that wrong?

  4. Posted by Lksdj | December 16, 2010 at 10:08 PM

    yes. you should not have done that.

  5. Posted by Lksdj | December 16, 2010 at 10:08 PM

    yes. you should not have done that.

  6. Posted by Lksdj | December 16, 2010 at 10:08 PM

    yes. you should not have done that.

  7. Posted by Anonymous | December 16, 2010 at 10:20 PM

    They deserve to get in trouble just for eating at Del Frisco’s. Where do they take client’s? Ruth Chris?

    -guy who thinks steak is perfect and doesn’t need all that shit on it.

  8. Posted by Optimist Prime | December 16, 2010 at 10:28 PM

    $150k? Proof the market is recovering?

  9. Posted by Me | December 16, 2010 at 11:13 PM

    Yes. Used to be they’d ask an intern or associate to do it on their lunch.

  10. Posted by Duh | December 17, 2010 at 2:06 AM

    Having people killed in the third world is obviously the NKI.

  11. Posted by Moep | December 17, 2010 at 4:47 AM

    Nostalgica. Recession wasn’t that bad after all. Well maybe not for the interns though.

  12. Posted by Anonymous | December 17, 2010 at 2:57 PM

    DK about Houston but the one in the McGraw-Hill building on 6th Ave usually has some pretty high-quality scenery at the bar…

  13. Posted by xel | December 17, 2010 at 3:06 PM

    I know a guy, who knows a guy, who knows some people who could probably do it for less, in fact I run a a hedge fund that arbitrages the spread!

    – HF Manager, desperately looking for assets, call me or I’ll find you!

  14. Posted by xel | December 17, 2010 at 3:06 PM

    I know a guy, who knows a guy, who knows some people who could probably do it for less, in fact I run a a hedge fund that arbitrages the spread!

    – HF Manager, desperately looking for assets, call me or I’ll find you!

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