By Paul Nicholson
September 8 – Former FIFA vice-president and CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb has had his bail conditions altered allowing him to return to his US home in Loganville, Georgia. Webb had been restricted to living within 20 miles of the Brooklyn, New York, courthouse where the case against him is being heard.
Webb is accused of soliciting bribes in exchange for marketing rights for Caribbean and CONCACAF tournaments.
The application made to the US federal court by Webb’s legal team claimed that the costs of living in New York City were proving unaffordable.
“This financial burden is worsened by the fact that nearly the entirety of Mr. and Mrs. Webb’s cash savings is maintained in bank accounts that are encumbered as a result of the indictment and forfeiture allegations in this case,” the application stated.
US court records allege that part of the money Webb received in bribe payments was used to pay for a swimming pool at the Loganville address.
US District Court Judge Raymond Dearie ruled that Webb could live in his Georgia home, assuming he would be able make it to court in New York for the relevant dates and that his other release conditions of electronic monitoring, home detention, a 24-hour security detail and two additional sureties to the government were met.
Webb is currently on bail having posted $10 million in property and luxury goods.
At his most recent court hearing in August assistant US Attorney Evan Norris told the court that materials had begun to be turned over to Webb’s legal team and that the case was proceeding. Norris told the judge that he’s hopeful the talks will result in more defendants appearing in court to face racketeering and other charges.
It appears the change in bail conditions were not challenged by the US prosecutors which in turn suggests that Webb’s co-operation is being viewed positively by the US authorities.
His hearing is currently scheduled for October 9.
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