BAE Systems plc

In March 2010, BAE Systems plc pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court to conspiring to defraud the United States, make false statements concerning its anti-corruption compliance programme, and violate U.S. arms-export control laws. The U.S. Department of Justice said that from approximately 2000 to 2002 BAE represented that it would create and implement policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with anti-bribery laws, but knowingly and willfully failed to establish sufficient mechanisms. BAE also admitted using offshore shell companies and intermediaries in ways that concealed relationships and payments, and admitted making false, inaccurate or incomplete statements connected with arms-export licence applications. The court ordered BAE Systems to pay a $400 million criminal fine. DOJ described it as one of the largest criminal fines imposed in its overseas-corruption and export-control enforcement work at the time. Source: U.S. Department of Justice https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/bae-systems-plc-pleads-guilty-and-ordered-pay-400-million-criminal-fine