TULSA, Okla. (AP) — The former president and CEO of BizJet International Sales and Support Inc. has pleaded guilty in federal court in Tulsa to his role in what prosecutors say was a scheme to bribe foreign government officials.
BizJet is a subsidiary of Lufthansa Technik AG with headquarters in Tulsa. The company provides aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul services.
Federal prosecutors say 57-year-old Bernd Kowalewski pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in a scheme to pay bribes to officials in Mexico and Panama in exchange for assistance in securing contracts for BizJet.
Kowalewski is the third of four men indicted in the case to plead guilty. The fourth man is believed to be living abroad.
Kowalewski was arrested in March in Amsterdam and waived extradition.