photogearch/iStock Editorial/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — The Justice Department, in response to a court order prompted by ABC News and other media outlets, released the 19-page plea agreement that paved the way for Chuck Blazer to cooperate with federal authorities in their investigation of organized soccer.
The deal dated Nov. 25, 2013, was under seal until Monday afternoon.
The deal states, “The defendant (Blazer) agrees to furnish to the (US Attorney’s) Office all documents and other material that may be relevant to the investigation and that are in the defendant’s possession or control and to participate in undercover activities pursuant to the specific instructions of law enforcement agents or this Office.”
The document says that Blazer’s total unreported income for 2005-2010 was $11 million. Blazer’s tax violations originally led the IRS and FBI to first approach him and offer him a deal to inform on FIFA in return for a lighter sentence.
Blazer was a FIFA executive committee member and general secretary of CONCACAF. His cooperation with federal investigators led to the arrests and charges announced by FBI Director James Comey and Attorney General Loretta Lynch last month and the subsequent resignation of FIFA President Sepp Blatter.
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