Resources

ZTE Corporation

Details


Industry: Telecommunications
Underlying Misconduct: False Statements, Obstruction of Justice, Unlawful Export
Matter Type: DOJ Criminal
Relevant Jurisdiction(s): US District Court for the Norther District of Texas, Dallas Division
Penalties: Fine
Fine Amount: $892,360,064 Forfeiture and $286,992,532 Fine
Reporting Agencies: Department of Commerce, Department of Justice Fraud Section, Federal Court
Resolution Form: Plea Agreement
Agreement Date: March 6, 2017
Monitor Reference Term: Independent Corporate Monitor
Monitor Identity: James M. Stanton
Monitorship Term: 3 Years
Monitor Selection Process:

Per the original Plea Agreement, the Host Organization was to propose 3 candidates to DOJ, from which DOJ selected - consistent with DOJ Policy. However, on March 22, 2017, it appears that the Judge presiding over the matter unilaterally selected a Monitor.

Time to Propose Monitors: 45 days
Time to Engage Monitor: 90 days
Time to First Report: 7 mos
Reporting Frequency: Annually
Monitor Required Qualifications:

Qualifications and experience sufficient, in the opinion of the Department, to properly discharge the Monitor's duties; ability to access and deploy appropriate internal Host Organization resources as necessary to discharge the Monitor's duties; and sufficient independence from the Host Organization to ensure effective and impartial performance of the Monitor's duties.

Summary of Monitor's Scope:

Assess and monitor Host Organization's compliance with the terms of the Agreement(s), including evaluating the Host Organization's compliance and ethics program with respect to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the Iran Transactions and Sanctions Regulations, the Export Administration Regulations, and other relevant export control laws, and making recommendations for improvement.

Summary of Monitor's Activities:

Review and evaluate the effectiveness of the Host Organization's internal controls, record-keeping, and existing or new procedures as the relate to compliance with the IEEPA, ITSR, EAR, and other applicable export control laws. Review and evaluation will include an assessment of the Export Control Policies and Procedures as actually implemented. Inspection of relevant documents, including policies and procedures relating to Export Control Policies and Procedures; on-site observation and testing of systems and procedures, including internal controls, record-keeping, and internal audit processes; meetings with and interviews of, relevant employees, directors and other persons at mutually convenient times and places, and analyses, studies and testing of Export Control Policies and Procedures, including export control computer systems and networks.

Monitor's Restrictions:

No business with Host Organization for a period of 2 years after the Monitorship; however, could serve in the Auditor role per the DOC BIS Agreement, which goes 3 years beyond the Monitorship.

Inserted into the Amended Appendix A: Monitor is a judicial adjunct pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 53, not an employee or agent of the Host Organization or the Reporting Agency, and no attorney-client privilege will be formed with the Host Organization.

Documents Uploaded: ZTE-DOJ-Plea-Agreement-6Mar2017.pdf
ZTE-DOJ-Plea-Agreement-Amended-App-A-6Mar2017.pdf
Other Relevant Information: ZTE-DOC-BIS-Settlement-Agreement-7Mar2017.pdf
ZTE-OFAC-Settlement-Agt-7Mar2017.pdf