Bangladeshi pleads guilty in US court

A man of Bangladeshi origin and a US citizen have pleaded guilty in New York to bribery and fraud charges in a case in which a former FBI agent is also charged.

Rizve Ahmed, aka “Caesar,” 35, and Johannes Thaler, 51, both living in Connecticut, admitted to participating in a bribery scheme with Robert Lustyik, a former FBI Special Agent who worked on the counterintelligence squad. They pleaded guilty in a federal court on Friday.

Thaler was Lustyik's friend, and Rizvi, a native of Bangladesh, was an acquaintance of Thaler, accord to a US Justice Department press release dated   

In pleading guilty, the two admitted that between September 2011 and March 2012, Thaler and Lustyik solicited bribes from Rizvi, in exchange for agreement to provide confidential documents and information to which the special agent had access. 

Rizve sought confidential law enforcement information regarding a Bangladeshi political figure, according to a US Justice Department press release.

The press release, issued Friday, didn't reveal the name of the politician but said he was “affiliated with a political party opposing Rizvi's views”. 

Rizvi requested the confidential information to locate and harm his intended victim and others associated with the victim. He also sought assistance in having criminal charges against a different Bangladeshi political figure dismissed.

The duo admitted that they exchanged various text messages in furtherance of the scheme, including text messages about a “contract” that would require Rizvi to pay a $40,000 “retainer” and $30,000 “monthly.” 

In return, Lustyik and Thaler agreed to “give [Rizvi] everything [they] ha[d] plus set up [the victim] and get the inside from the party.”

Thaler and Lustyik also exchanged text messages about how to pressure Rizvi to pay them additional money in exchange for confidential information. 

For example, in text messages, Lustyik told Thaler, “we need to push [Rizvi] for this meeting and get that 40 gs quick . . . . I will talk us into getting the cash . . . . I will work my magic . . . . We r sooooooo close.”  Thaler responded, “I know.  It's all right there in front of us.  Pretty soon we'll be having lunch in our oceanfront restaurant . . . .”

Additionally, in late January 2012, Lustyik learned that Rizvi was considering using a different source to obtain confidential information. 

As a result, Lustyik sent a text message to Thaler stating, “I want to kill [Rizvi] . . . . I hung my ass out the window n we got nothing? . . . . Tell [Rizvi], I've got [the victim's] number and I'm pissed. . . . I will put a wire on n get [Rizvi and his associates] to admit they want [a Bangladeshi political figure] offed n we sell it to the victim].” 

Lustyik further stated, “So bottom line.  I need ten gs asap.  We gotta squeeze C.”

Sentencing hearings for Thaler and Rizvi are scheduled for January 23, 2015, said the US Justice Department press release.

Lustyik is scheduled for trial on November 17, 2014.  The charges contained in an indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.