Bulgarian Gets Suspended Sentence in Oil-for-Food Scandal in US

Crime | December 14, 2007, Friday // 00:00

A Houston oil trader of Bulgarian origin, who played a minor role in the United Nations' oil-for-food scandal, was sentenced to two years of probation after admitting wrongdoing.

Ludmil Dionissiev, 61, has also been imposed a USD 5,000 fine as the judge called him the "least guilty" of those charged with helping bring Iraqi oil into the US in January 2001.

The defendant pleaded guilty earlier this year.

Before he was sentenced, Dionissiev apologized, saying he knew what he was doing was wrong when he committed his crime. He said it was the "biggest mistake" of his life.

"I'd like to apologize to the United Nations for my participation in the case," said Dionissiev, who moved to the United States from Bulgaria 16 years ago.

In all, 10 people and five companies have been charged in connection with schemes to cheat the oil-for-food program, which ran from 1996 to 2003. The program let the Iraqi government sell oil primarily to buy humanitarian goods.

Last month, the judge sentenced Oscar Wyatt Jr., 83, to a year and a day in prison after the Texas oilman interrupted his trial by pleading guilty to conspiracy in the case.

A Korean businessman was also sentenced earlier this year to five years behind bars for accepting at least USD 2 M to work on Iraq's behalf to influence the oil-for-food program.

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